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Rheinmetall and Lockheed Martin Successfully Fire GMARS Launcher for the First Time

Wednesday, August 6th, 2025

White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico – Rheinmetall and Lockheed Martin, partners in the Global Mobile Artillery Rocket System (GMARS) program, successfully conducted the first live fire of the GMARS launcher, demonstrating its capability to launch GMLRS rockets. These are the same munitions used by Germany and allied nations across the globe, reinforcing interoperability and supporting joint operations. 

The live fire demonstration, held at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, marked a significant milestone in the GMARS development program, which aims to provide military customers with a European-built highly mobile, survivable and versatile long-range precision fires capability. The launcher can be armed with an enhanced loadout of two ATACMS, 4 PrSM, 12 GMLRS Standard Range or 12 Extended Range GMLRS missiles.

“We are thrilled to have achieved this major milestone in the GMARS program,” said Dr. Björn Bernhard, CEO Rheinmetall Vehicle Systems Europe. “The successful live fire showcases the system’s precision and reliability, and we are confident that GMARS will meet the evolving needs of our customers.”

The GMARS launcher, based on the Rheinmetall HX vehicle series, offers a high degree of interoperability and interchangeability with fielded M270A2 and HIMARS launchers, making it an ideal solution for military forces operating in Europe. The system’s ability to launch current and future state-of-the-art long-range and extended-long-range rocket fire missions provides a significant advantage on the modern battlefield.

“Lockheed Martin is committed to delivering innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers,” said Paula Hartley, vice president and general manager of Tactical Missiles at Lockheed Martin. “The GMARS program is a prime example of this commitment, and we are pleased to have successfully demonstrated its capability in this live fire exercise. With this milestone accomplished, we are poised to rapidly qualify and bring this capability to market.

The GMARS program is a result of the partnership between Rheinmetall and Lockheed Martin, which combines their individual strengths to provide a European-centric launcher that maximizes combat-proven HIMARS and M270 components. 

GMARS offers twice the ammunition capacity and firepower as M270 on the world’s leading tactical truck with the ability to integrate platforms and ammunition from allied nations.

For more information on the GMARS program, please visit: www.rheinmetall.com/en/products/tactical-wheeled-vehicles/wheeled-armoured-vehicles/gmars

Posted in Fires, International, Munitions, Press Release | No Comments »

Magazine Depth Wins Wars: The Future of NATO’s Arsenal

Saturday, July 26th, 2025

WIESBADEN, Germany – A strong defense isn’t solely about the quantity of weapons stockpiled, but the ability to adapt and rapidly produce what’s needed, experts asserted at the LANDEURO 2025 conference today. A panel discussion focused on the critical need for broadened production within NATO to secure global supply chains, enhance interoperability, and bolster strategic flexibility.

The conversation centered on lessons learned from the ongoing war in Ukraine, where sustained ammunition supplies and the ability to quickly repair and replace equipment have proven vital. Panelists emphasized the necessity of “magazine depth” – maintaining sufficient reserves – alongside collaborative production of munitions, repair parts, and entire weapon systems.

Panelists stressed that maintaining readiness requires a holistic approach, encompassing not only weapons systems and ammunition, but also a robust sustainment infrastructure. This includes ensuring sufficient repair parts, subassemblies and critical components are readily available. Experts agreed that the capacity and capabilities of the defense industrial complex are foundational to achieving this “magazine depth” and are a critical pillar for both deterring adversaries and winning conflicts – not just regionally, but globally. Furthermore, they noted that current economic and geopolitical conditions present an unprecedented opportunity to develop, expand, and scale the defense industrial complex, creating irreversible momentum for future security.

U.S. Army (Ret.) Gen. Edward Daly described his vision of the defense industrial complex in 2030.

“It’s an ecosystem that’s modern, globally responsive, interoperable, and produces capabilities and technologically advanced products at scale to support not only the commercial sector, but the military as well,” said Daly.

Lt. Gen. Miles Brown, deputy commanding general of U.S. Army Futures Command, highlighted the core goals of the Army Transformation Initiative (ATI) and the planned consolidation of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command and U.S. Army Futures Command into the new Army Transformation and Training Command.

“This isn’t about bringing the family back together,” said Brown. “We’re building a 21st-century command – data-centric, collaborative, lean, agile, and adaptive. The whole point of the ATI is to take the opportunity we have now, with the national will and commitment to excellence, and to move out quickly, not to study for two or three years before we get after it.”

He emphasized that the ATI aims to fundamentally change how the Army operates, focusing on speed and innovation.

Ultimately, the panelists agreed that a modernized and adaptable defense industrial base, coupled with a streamlined and innovative command structure, is crucial for ensuring NATO’s readiness for prolonged conflicts and addressing the evolving landscape of global security threats. Investing in these areas, they said, will deliver a decisive strategic advantage for the alliance’s future arsenal.

See video remarks here.

By Aaron Smith

Posted in Ammo, Army, Guest Post, Munitions | No Comments »

Rampart Awarded $10M Contract to Supply Rheinmetall 76mm Bi-Spectral Obscurant Grenades to the Department of National Defence

Wednesday, July 23rd, 2025

Ottawa, ON – July 22nd, 2025 – Rampart Corp., Canada’s leading supplier of operational equipment to military and Law Enforcement end users, has been awarded a $10 million CAD contract by the Department of National Defence (DND) to supply 76mm Bi-Spectral Obscurant Grenades for use by the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).

Manufactured by Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH (RWM) in Germany, the advanced grenades are designed to create an obscurant screen that conceals armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) from enemy detection systems. The screen is effective across multiple spectrums—including visual, thermal, and infrared—ensuring operational security and mobility in diverse combat environments and all-weather conditions.

“We are proud and excited to support the Canadian Armed Forces with the world’s most advanced land vehicle smoke protection systems from Rheinmetall,” said Mike Klein, President of Rampart. “Rampart’s partnership with Rheinmetall underscores our commitment to providing the CAF with best-in-class technology to enhance survivability and mission success.”

A RMWM representative added:

“Rheinmetall Waffe Munition would like to thank the Canadian Department of National Defence for their continued trust in the continuation of the decades-long partnership with Rheinmetall in service of the Canadian Armed Forces. This partnership is now being led in the very capable hands of our trusted partner and distributor RAMPART.”

This contract marks a significant milestone in Rampart’s growing defence portfolio and further strengthens Canada’s capability to equip its armed forces with NATO-compatible, combat-proven systems.

Learn more at www.rampartcorp.com

Posted in Camo, Contracts, International, Munitions, Press Release | No Comments »

38 Sierra LLC Releases Inert Ordnance for Counter- Unmanned Aircraft Systems Training

Monday, July 14th, 2025

38 Sierra LLC is proud to announce the release a new line of inert ordnance training aids to support Counter- Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) training and readiness. Designed by Explosive Ordnance Disposal Veteran Patrick McCrone, the size, weight and, appearance of each ordnance items has been faithfully replicated in our training aids. These products are ideal for a full spectrum of training, from classroom instruction to Field Training Exercises.

38 Sierra also offers free technical resources to promote awareness of UAS related explosive hazards and examples of UAS training scenarios are also available on our website 38Sierra.co

Check out our entire lineup of Weaponized Unmanned Aircraft System training aids today at 38sierra.co.

Posted in Munitions, Press Release, UAS | No Comments »

Tiberius Aerospace Partners with the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Defence Technology Secretariat

Tuesday, June 24th, 2025

Tiberius Aerospace is a modern defence technology company built to empower the UK, US and their global allies with next generation weapon systems and AI powered solutions.  Tiberius recently launched, Sceptre (TRBM 155HG), its revolutionary new liquid fuelled, 155mm Ramjet extended-range precision-guided artillery munition and also outlined its company ethos and mission to help disrupt defence procurement at the Future Artillery conference in London.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Defence Technology serves as a vital forum within the UK Parliament, uniting Members of Parliament, industry leaders and stakeholders to explore and address vital developments in defence technology.   Its main objectives are to promote understanding and engagement with the UK’s defence technology sector, facilitate collaboration between Parliament and defence industry to support innovation and research, assess the impact of technological advancements on national security and address policy challenges to ensure the sector enhances the UK’s defence capabilities.  Therefore, Tiberius and its founders (Chad Steelberg and Andy Bayes) make perfect partners to the Defence Technology APPG Secretariat (who organise and support the APPG) due to their wealth of experience and significant success across multiple technology sectors now being applied to defence.

Having emerged from stealth mode at Future Artillery, Tiberius Aerospace was founded in 2022, in response to a new era of conflict where speed, adaptability, cost-effective capability and supply chain assurance are essential to national security.  With its founders’ DNA rooted in Silicon Valley, Tiberius’ team of engineers, strategists and entrepreneurs are applying best practices, innovative design and engineering expertise from multiple commercial sectors to rapidly deliver high-impact, compliant, modular and open architecture weapon systems.

Andy Baynes, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Tiberius Aerospace said: “Our mission is to deliver next-generation weapon systems of outstanding capability with precision, scale and efficiency empowering the UK, the US and their allies with unmatched agility, precision and rock-solid resilience.  Therefore, we are extremely pleased to partner with the Defence Technology APPG to help them understand the art of the possible, gain insight to the incredible benefits to national security through harnessing modern technology and hopefully help shape a future defence procurement model that rapidly and efficiently combatsemerging threats and better supports our collective protection.”

James Clark Strategic Advisor to APPG said, “The Defence Technology APPG Secretariat are very pleased to have Tiberius Aerospace as a new partner.  We are constantly seeking new and innovative companies to partner with us so that the UK Parliament has the best possible insight into the key developments that are taking place in Defence industry that impact on our national security.  The ethos and mission that the founders of Tiberius espouse is very compelling and we look forward to their contribution.”

www.tiberius.com

Posted in Industry, International, Munitions, Press Release | No Comments »

Newly Revealed Defence Company Tiberius Aerospace Launches “Sceptre” a Revolutionary New Ramjet 155mm Munition

Monday, May 19th, 2025

Tiberius Aerospace is a modern defence technology company built to empower the UK, US and their global allies with next generation weapon systems and AI powered solutions.

Tiberius is publicly announcing its flagship weapons program, Sceptre (TRBM 155HG), a revolutionary new liquid fuelled, 155mm Ramjet extended-range precision-guided artillery munition. Sceptre delivers superior precision and dramatically improves the cost effectiveness of all howitzer class artillery. This announcement coincides with the Future Artillery conference, London 20-22 May 2025.

Emerging today from stealth mode, Tiberius Aerospace was founded in 2022, in response to a new era of conflict where speed, adaptability, cost-effective capability and supply chain assurance are essential to national security. With its founders’ DNA rooted in Silicon Valley, Tiberius’ team of engineers, strategists and entrepreneurs are applying best practices, innovative design and engineering expertise from multiple commercial sectors to rapidly deliver high-impact, compliant, modular and open architecture weapon systems.

The first product to be announced by Tiberius Aerospace is Sceptre (TRBM 155HG) – a revolutionary new 155mm ramjet extended-range precision-guided ballistic munition reaching speeds of Mach 3.5 and altitudes in excess of 65,000 feet (beyond jamming range). Its unique design balances performance and operational efficiency (manufacturing, safety, maintenance and modularity) to deliver a next-generation munition for legacy artillery and future platforms. Sceptre has an extended range up to 150km depending on payload (max 5.2kg) and superior targeting precision with a circular error probability (CEP) of less than 5m, even in GPS contested battlespaces, compared
to over 100m for traditional artillery. Designed with the customer and end user foremost, the
system is fully compatible with NATO standard 155mm artillery platforms and its ignition system and limited barrel contact points minimises barrel degradation. To reduce the logistics burden, minimise storage and in-transit safety hazards, and maximise shelf life beyond 20 years, Sceptre uses a proprietary just-in-time, multi-fuel (diesel, JP-4 and JP-8) liquid propellent design.

Sceptre was designed to allow a cost down procurement model that broadens and strengths the supply chain, delivering better security, resiliency and cost efficiency. Its modular, open architecture allows for future software and hardware upgrades drawing on modern technology best practice. Its sophisticated guidance system has a simple user interface for target selection and supports an open API for 3rd party fire control platform integration. During flight, the onboard GPS and inertial measurement unit synchronise and leverage advanced AI to error correct to desired confidence levels, allowing operation in degraded or GPS denied environments. If needed, multiple munitions can communicate in-flight to further refine the targeting solution. Sceptre delivers a 10X solution – precision, cost-effective, long-range capability with minimal collateral damage.

Chad Steelberg, Founder and CEO of Tiberius Aerospace said: “Our mission is to deliver next-
generation weapon systems of outstanding capability with precision, scale and efficiency. The public launch of Sceptre today, the first of our Ramjet munitions, meets this goal and fills a critical capability gap by delivering long-range precision-guided effects in a high-quality cost-effective package. Tiberius’ innovation pipeline of products and services is engineered to catalyse a strategic leap in defence—empowering the UK, the US and their allies with unmatched agility, precision and rock-solid resilience.”

Posted in International, Munitions, Press Release | Comments Off on Newly Revealed Defence Company Tiberius Aerospace Launches “Sceptre” a Revolutionary New Ramjet 155mm Munition

Chemring Group PLC, Roke Secures Long-Term UK Missile Defence Centre Contract

Thursday, April 3rd, 2025

Chemring is pleased to announce that Roke has won a strategically important UK Ministry of Defence multi-year missile defence contract.

Known as Science & Technology Oriented Research & development in Missile defence (“STORM”), this framework contract encompasses a broad spectrum of missile defence activities and capabilities. Partnering with the UK Missile Defence Centre (“UK MDC”) Roke will lead a UK sovereign industry collaborative e?ort to provide security to the UK, and its allies, by countering current and future threats, including ballistic and hypersonic missiles.

Valued at £251m over six years, and commencing immediately, the STORM framework will see Roke enhance its role as a trusted partner to the UK MDC at the heart of the UK missile defence ecosystem at what is a pivotal moment for national defence and security. As the overall Prime Contractor Roke will self-deliver elements of the contract and will also manage industry partners as they deliver the significant majority of contract value.

Roke’s STORM work will inform critical UK defence decision-making and will play a key role in developing next-generation missile defence capabilities.

Michael Ord, Chief Executive of Chemring, commented:

“We are delighted that Roke has been trusted to deliver STORM for the UK MDC. In today’s complex and changing security environment e?ective missile defence is crucial to protecting the UK’s interests. This contract recognises Roke’s heritage inhelping customers solve complex problems, and places Roke at the heart of the UK’s missile defence research and development activities.”

Posted in Contracts, International, Munitions, Press Release | Comments Off on Chemring Group PLC, Roke Secures Long-Term UK Missile Defence Centre Contract

SOFWERX – Gliding Offensive Lightweight Unmanned Munition (GOLUM)

Thursday, February 20th, 2025

The Gliding Offensive Lightweight Unmanned Munition (GOLUM) assessment event is now open for submissions.

Purpose

SOFWERX, in collaboration with US Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) and US Army Space and Missile Defense Command (USASMDC), will host an assessment event to advance efforts in developing and producing an advanced light-weight precision glide munition.

Background/Synopsis

USSOCOM is seeking industry submissions for a precision glide munition that is smaller than the GBU-69 and that can be delivered by light-weight uncrewed aircraft.

Objective

The government is interested in the development and eventual fielding of a low-cost, light-weight, precision, unpowered, air-launched glide munition to fill the gap for glide munitions smaller than the GBU-69 for use by U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF).

Submit NLT 10 March 2025 11:59 PM ET.

For more information, visit events.sofwerx.org/gliding-offensive-lightweight-unmanned-munition-golum

Posted in Munitions, SOF | 7 Comments »

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