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Archive for the ‘International’ Category

Jankel Launches New Armoured Toyota Land Cruiser LC300

Wednesday, December 6th, 2023

Jankel, a world-leader in the design and manufacture of high-specification defence, security and NGO protection systems, has announced the formal product launch of their new armoured Toyota Land Cruiser LC300 vehicle. Jankel is an exceedingly well-established supplier in the world of Civilian Armoured Vehicles (CAVs) and this new armoured variant of the latest Toyota Land Cruiser 300 model is claimed to be a “best in class” product.

Delivering unprecedented levels of protection, functionality and reliability based upon many years of user feedback, the new Jankel LC300 is already being sought after by a multitude of global defence ministries and Non-Government Organisations (NGO’s).

Having qualified the LC300 to the latest edition 3 of the international VPAM BRV and ERV (VR7) standards, Jankel has invested to ensure the developed platform provides the very best protection to its UK home market customers and maximises its export potential to the wider international user groups. Jankel is proud to be the very first to certify their VR7 vehicle with a 2m side blast in accordance with Edition 3 which uses biofidelic dummies to understand the true impacts to the vehicle occupants. The Jankel LC300 has been designed with a bolt in armour solution, electric systems modularity, and unique patented technologies to provide customers with a 10-year service life.

The formal product launch comes as a comprehensive development programme draws to a close.

Understanding the requirement to deliver a future-proofed design from the outset inclusive of customer options, Jankel has taken time to develop and test their design with key differentiators, not wishing to rush to enter the market until absolutely ready to do so. As a result, Jankel’s new LC300 delivers ‘best in class’ protection, safety, capability and functionality including a protection certified for a third row of seats, allowing for 7 people.

Andrew Jankel, Chairman at Jankel Group said: “I’m very proud to be able to formally launch our new LC300 – it’s an exciting product that I have every confidence will meet our customers ever growing needs and expectations. Our development and testing programme has been careful, exacting and supremely comprehensive, delivering a vehicle that benefits from many years of user feedback leading to detailed and innovative product design. We have not rushed this, we’ve taken our time to get it absolutely right and provide a long lasting differentiated product offering”. He added: “As well as the more obvious targets of compliance, protection and safety, our new product is also very focused on through-life reliability and maintainability – essential for fleet managers and operators across the globe. We’ve not just aimed at passing the international standard protection tests, we’ve reached beyond that to enhance the overall performance and operability in every way possible. Our combination of production price and service life offer excellent value for money. I’m very pleased indeed with the team’s efforts and obvious results as we now present our new LC300 to the global markets”.

www.jankel.com/products/civilian-armoured-vehicles/vr7-armoured-toyota-lc300

Rheinmetall Wins Major Artillery Ammunition Order for Ukraine Worth Over €140 Million

Tuesday, December 5th, 2023

Rheinmetall has won a large-volume order for supporting Ukraine with artillery ammunition. The Düsseldorf-based tech enterprise has been tasked with supplying Kyiv with artillery rounds worth around €142 million. The order encompasses tens of thousands of complete 155mm artillery shells, including the projectile, fuse (for the explosive charge), propellant and primer (for igniting the propellant). The customer is a NATO partner nation whose declared intention is to support Ukraine in its defensive struggle with effective long-term military aid.

The shells will be produced by Rheinmetall Expal Munitions, the Group’s newly acquired Spanish subsidiary. The current contract highlights Rheinmetall’s role as the world’s largest producer of ammunition, especially in the large calibre domain. The ammunition will be delivered in 2025. Production and delivery of around 40,000 rounds for Ukraine from an earlier order is already due to take place in 2024.

As recently as mid-October 2023, the German government placed an order with Rheinmetall for over 100,000 rounds of 155mm ammunition earmarked for Ukraine – once again from Rheinmetall Expal Munitions – as well as additional DM 121 high explosive shells. The order is worth a figure in the mid-three-digit million-euro range.

Demand for artillery ammunition is currently very high, due not just to Ukraine’s requirements but also the need to replenish the largely empty ammunition depots of Germany and other NATO and EU countries. Rheinmetall plans a massive increase in ammunition production capacity in 2024 at its plants in Germany, Spain, South Africa and Australia, bringing annual output capacity to around 700,000 artillery rounds.

Rheinmetall currently has multiyear framework contracts for supplying the German Bundeswehr with several hundred rounds of artillery ammunition worth over €1 billion.

NFM Opens the Hjelm Lounge

Monday, December 4th, 2023

NFM has created an online lounge for all things Hjelm.

Content includes some very cool Video & Animation, Tales & Insights, and the Hjelm Catalog.

nfm.no/hjelm4gen

Luminae OTB (Over The Buckle) Pouch

Monday, December 4th, 2023

The Luminae OTB (Over The Buckle) pouch is designed to give the user 360 degrees of usable belt space. The pouch is placed over the top of the buckle on a shooters belt, the user simply fastens the belt together and then clip the pouches male end into the female end mounted on the belt.

The OTB Pouch is perfect for holding gloves, TQ’s, Cyalumes/glow sticks, smoke grenades, shotgun shells and admin equipment. Basically any small mission critical equipment.

To fit the pouch simple place your belt buckle through one of the loops and the back of the pouch and place the belt mounted clip to the shooters belt.

www.Luminae.co.uk

ePIG Presents: The Ultimate Camo Comparison – NATO vs Commercial Patterns

Sunday, December 3rd, 2023

My friends in Germany at ePIG Group have produced a new video called “The ultimate camouflage comparison – NATO (KSK, Bundeswehr, US Army, USMC…) vs commercial patterns.” It’s quite extensive at an hour and a half, and there’s a lot you can glean from the video including some info on Phantomleaf.

Sneak Peek – Pohl Force Prepper S.E.R.E.

Friday, December 1st, 2023

With the Prepper One series, Pohl Force introduced a completely new knife concept for bushcrafters and outdoor enthusiasts in 2016: Compact in overall size, a blade length that complies with German weapons regulations (below 12 cm) and a hollow handle for storing survival utensils. After just a short time, Dietmar Pohl’s design became a real classic among outdoor fans.

In 2023, the Prepper One formed the basis for the further development of a completely new generation, which now focuses on the needs of crew members of civilian and, in particular, military aircraft. The term S.E.R.E. refers to the ability to survive, evade, resist and escape. The Prepper S.E.R.E. was developed with this application profile in mind.

Coming this month from www.pohlforce.de.

Fantosme – Maritime Plate Carrier Gen 2

Wednesday, November 29th, 2023

Launched during the recent Milipol Paris expo, the Maritime Plate Carrier Gen 2 was developed by Fantosme in France and Flimmuur Tactical in the UK. As you can see, it’s a low profile design.

From the outset it was designed for ease of manufacture with fewer pieces. It includes a semi-rigid cummerbund to help support and stabilize load utilizes the 2M ROC Buckle.

Accepts Multiple placards.

Rear panel accepts Crye Zip-On Panels.

It’s also lightweight. The carrier with 3 mag pouch is just 700 grams.

Above you can see the construction of the panels which accept a pad.

By Eric Graves
Editor

Research Consortium Led by Finland-based VTT and Lockheed Martin Will Develop Signals Intelligence Technologies Benefiting the Global Defence Industry

Tuesday, November 28th, 2023

The aim of the cooperation project is to develop methods and technologies for radar and communication signal detection and classification on a modern battlefield, filled with emitters with low-probability of interception and detection signals. The framework agreement, signed on November 21, initiates long-term cooperation between Lockheed Martin, the Finnish research community, and the Finnish industry, creating relationships that benefit all parties. The agreement is connected to Finland’s procurement of the F-35 fighter jets.

ESPOO, Finland (November 22, 2023) Research consortium led by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and Lockheed Martin have finalised a frame agreement for indirect industrial cooperation. Other members of the consortium are defence and technology company Patria, Harp Technologies, a Finnish SME active in space, defence, and remote sensing technologies, and two leading, innovative Finnish universities: Aalto University and the University of Tampere.

Finland is a leading nation of digital technologies. The state-owned VTT, founded more than 80 years ago during World War II to develop the most advanced technologies and products in the world, has previously developed ground-breaking satellite signal technology for the European Space Agency ESA, resulting in the world’s first 75 GHz signals that could ease clutter on the radio waves in the future.

“The purpose of the project is to combine the expertise and technological strengths of different parties, creating highly developed solutions and advanced new expertise that can be applied to the needs of the international defence industry, and to the products of next-generation electronic reconnaissance,” says Sauli Eloranta, Director of Safe and Connected Society Research Area at VTT.

For Finland, the project will also help strengthen the security of supply concerning the country’s own technological expertise and talent. The project will, e.g., help draw new students to study and work with the subject of digital defence technologies, creating a pathway for the new professionals to join both national and international defence industry companies over time.

Through indirect industrial cooperation initiatives, Lockheed Martin will build and benefit from industry partnerships with Finnish companies, universities and colleges, offering opportunities and new avenues to develop and strengthen the cooperation far into the future.

“The cooperation is a significant step for VTT and Finland at large. We are very keen on assessing additional future cooperation opportunities with Lockheed Martin. The technology cooperation offers us an opportunity to continue to develop our strong expertise in defence technologies and to increase cooperation with other defence industry actors,” concludes Eloranta.

The project is expected to last three years. Lockheed Martin and VTT are also looking to sign another framework agreement for a second project focusing on millimeter-wave passive imaging radiometer development during 2023, with the work aiming to start in 2024.