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Modern Day Marine: UVision USA Announces Successful High-Altitude Mission Execution with the Hero 120

Wednesday, June 28th, 2023

At a launch altitude of 14,500 ft., the Hero 120 loitering munition system has proven a successful high-altitude operation, with ISR and target engagement capabilities effectively executed at 18,000 ft and above.

MDM, Washington, 27-29 June, Stand 1837

June 28 2023: UVision USA, the US subsidiary of UVision Air, a global leader in aerial loitering systems, announced the completion of successful High Altitude mission execution of its Hero 120 loitering munition system.

With the ability to identify targets from a high altitude, and conduct pin-point strikes, the system demonstrated a successful sensor-to shooter-cycle closure, carrying a substantial payload of 4.5 kilograms. The upgraded Hero-120 enhances the already proven capabilities with an additional operational discriminator.

Major General (Ret.) Avi Mizrachi, CEO of UVision Air Ltd, the parent company of UVision USA, stated, “The successful execution of a mission from high altitude marks a significant milestone in the expanding capabilities portfolio of the Hero-120. This technological achievement was made possible through precise aerodynamic adjustments that enabled the Hero 120 to withstand the challenging conditions of such altitudes. This capability complements the Hero-120’s recently announced ability to launch from a helicopter, further demonstrating the absolute advantage of Hero-120″.

The Hero 120 Loitering Munition System is a mid-range, anti-tank system designed to meet the demands of the modern battlefield. It employs high-precision strikes against anti-armor, anti-material, and anti-personnel targets, including tanks, vehicles, and soft targets in urban areas. With minimal collateral damage and a range of multi-purpose warheads, the Hero 120 provides operational users with an effective engagement solution.

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Unleashing American Ingenuity: MACH-TB Launches Suborbital Testbed Vehicle in Support of American Hypersonic Innovation

Tuesday, June 20th, 2023

On June 17, 2023, the MACH-TB program successfully launched its first suborbital testbed vehicle in a critical step forward toward advancing U.S. hypersonic technology.

To compete with U.S. adversaries, we must rapidly prototype and vet new technology at the speed of mission. The Multiservice Advanced Capability Test Bed (MACH-TB) project, is a dynamic initiative engineered to effectively evaluate and demonstrate hypersonic capabilities prior to integration into existing weapon systems.

“As the hypersonic race intensifies, there is an urgent need to quickly prototype and test this technology,” said S²MARTS Director Doug Crowe. “The MACH-TB launch announcement marks a pivotal stride forward in preserving America’s unrivaled technical dominance.”

The Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane division, leveraging the Strategic and Spectrum Missions Advanced Resilient Trusted Systems (S²MARTS) Other Transaction Authority (OTA), awarded the MACH-TB contract to Dynetics in September 2022. Supported by a formidable consortium of 12 subcontractors, the MACH-TB program is tasked with designing an experimental glide body that will undergo rigorous hypersonic capability tests to bolster various Department of Defense (DoD) initiatives.

The collective power of American innovators in the hypersonic race cannot be underestimated. Of the performers supporting MACH-TB, eight are non-traditional organizations who are new to defense, now standing shoulder-to-shoulder with established industry players. Through the S²MARTS OTA, the DoD successfully eliminated barriers to entry and expanded its reach to the nation’s premier commercial innovators, introducing groundbreaking technologies into the fold.

A collaborative partnership between national and DoD laboratories, academia, small businesses, non-traditional defense enterprises, and industry titans will foster the development and demonstration of hypersonic glide vehicle capabilities. These cutting-edge technologies will solidify America’s unassailable position in the realm of hypersonic technology.

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Introducing SpyX: BlueBird Aero Systems’ Revolutionary Loitering Munition

Tuesday, June 20th, 2023

Hepher Industrial Park, Israel June 19, 2023 – BlueBird Aero Systems, an Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Group Company, unveils its SpyX, a cutting-edge Loitering Munition UAV platform designed to empower military forces with unmatched tactical capabilities such as 50Km operational range, 1.5 hours mission time, autonomous electro-optical guided attack, optimal effect-on-target and tight integration with Bluebird’s VTOL ISR UAV family. This groundbreaking technology represents a significant milestone in the evolution of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems and brings a new era of precision and efficiency to the battlefield, and in an extremely affordable price.

SpyX, developed by BlueBird Aero Systems, is an expendable electric mini-UAV, designed for loitering & strike missions, to enable tactical teams to organically detect, confirm and hit targets at ranges up to 50Km. To increase its target detection capabilities, the SpyX is integrated with a revolutionary belly-mounted dual-sensor stabilized payload and advanced video tracker, to enable autonomous and accurate electro-optical guided attack on the target. To increase its effectiveness, the 2.5Kg warhead (like combined Anti-Personnel, Anti-vehicles, or Anti-tank warheads) is loaded to the SpyX Loitering Munition just before launch, as per the required effect-on-target.

“SpyX is a game-changer in the field of military UAV platforms,” says Ronen Nadir, CEO of BlueBird Aero Systems. “We are proud to introduce this advanced system that combines innovative technology with unmatched versatility and cost-effectiveness. SpyX not only enhances situational awareness and enables precision and effective strikes, but also revolutionizes tactical battlefield superiority through its tight integration with our VTOL ISR UASs. It is a testament to our commitment to provide our customers with cutting-edge solutions that meet their evolving needs of tactical military operations”.

Key Features and Benefits of SpyX:

• Operational Range: An impressive operational range of up to 50km.

• Endurance: An impressive endurance of 1.5 hours, ensuring persistent surveillance and the ability to strike when targets are discovered and identified.

• Versatile Warhead Options: Multiple types of warheads, including anti-tank and anti-personnel/lite vehicle, ensuring optimal effectiveness against different target types.

• Agility: With a weight of only 10 kg, SpyX is a compact and agile platform, enabling rapid deployment and maneuverability in dynamic scenarios.

• High Attack Speed: With an attack-speed of 250 km/h, SpyX ensures efficient engagement of targets. The Target will not see nor hear it coming…

• Separate Warhead Storage: SpyX unique design allows the warhead to be stored separately, to enhance logistic storage capabilities, reduce the required space for safe bunker storage, and simplifies the transportation and handling of the system.

Advanced Military Operations:

SpyX revolutionizes the way tactical military operations are conducted, providing an unparalleled advantage in various scenarios:

• Precision Strikes: With a designed Circular Error Probable (CEP) of less than 1 meter, SpyX ensures exceptional precision in targeting to minimizes the risk to ground forces and reduces collateral damage.

• Reconnaissance and Surveillance: With its advanced dual-sensor payload, the SpyX provides real-time enhanced situational-awareness, enabling better target detection capabilities and decision-making in the field. Additionally, BlueBird’s unique open architecture design allows for joint reconnaissance and target detection efforts by integrating SpyX with BlueBird’s VTOL ISR UASs such as WanderB-VTOL and ThunderB-VTOL UAS. This collaborative approach enhances the mission effectiveness by allowing target detection before launching SpyX, while covering larger areas for longer time using VTOL UAVs, maximizing operational efficiency.

• Force Protection: Safeguard military personnel and critical infrastructure by identifying and neutralizing threats efficiently and effectively. SpyX’s versatile warhead options allow for adaptable mission planning, enabling precise engagement of both armored targets and personnel or light vehicles.

For more information about SpyX and BlueBird’s range of UAS solutions, please visit www.bluebird-uav.com.

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Artillery Ammo Deal to Deliver Ongoing Capability Edge

Tuesday, June 13th, 2023

NIOA has confirmed an extended partnership with Defence which it says will “future proof” supply surety of advanced artillery rounds for the Australian Army.

At a time of unprecedented worldwide demand for 155mm ammunition, the Australian-owned Defence prime has locked in another five-year term to supply the Assegai suite of munitions under the LAND 17-1C.2 Future Artillery Ammunition (FAA) program.

The modular Assegai ammunition system of projectiles, propelling charges, fuzes and primers can be configured in many ways to increase lethality and range for training and operational purposes.

Over the past five years, NIOA and supply partners JUNGHANS Microtec GmbH, Nitrochemie Aschau GmbH and Rheinmetall Denel Munitions have worked in close collaboration with Defence to deliver and integrate this artillery system into the Army’s M777A2 howitzers and are preparing for integration into K9 Protected Mobile Fires platforms.

Projectile variants include conventional HE, Insensitive Munition High Explosive (IHE), IHE Pre-Fragmented (PFF), screening smoke, illumination (infrared and visual), base-bleed and Extended Range Velocity Enhance (V-LAP), practice and inert projectiles.

A key recommendation of the recent Defence Strategic Review (DSR) was to accelerate and shore up supply of critical munitions and projectiles which have been included in a $2.5b investment in Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO).

Reliable sources such as the joint venture Rheinmetall NIOA Munitions (RNM) shell forging factory in Maryborough, Queensland, which recently shipped its first consignment of export 155mm shells to Germany, are likely to become more critical.

NIOA Australia and New Zealand CEO Ben James welcomed the LAND 17-1C.2 deed extension, saying the new partnership would capitalise on a highly successful LAND 17 Program and a key period for ADF capability.

“The LAND 17 FAA program will deliver a step change in reach, coverage and flexibility for the ADF’s artillery capability,” he said.

“NIOA welcomes this significant deed extension and looks forward to working with Defence to deliver against accelerated preparedness objectives.

“The DSR identified the need to rapidly acquire additional ammunition stocks from existing suppliers and contractors and rapidly establish a domestic GWEO manufacturing capability.

“This LAND 17 deed extension provides the opportunity for NIOA to deliver on both of these objectives for Government and for the ADF.”

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Saab Receives Order for Carl-Gustaf Ammunition to Sweden

Tuesday, May 30th, 2023

Saab has received an order from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) for deliveries of ammunition for the recoilless Carl-Gustaf® rifle. The order value is approximately SEK 3 billion and deliveries will take place during 2026-2030.

The order is placed within a framework agreement between Saab and FMV which allows purchases of Saab’s Ground Combat weapons Carl-Gustaf, AT4 and NLAW, including ammunition and equipment.

“We are proud to continue to deliver our world-leading solutions to Sweden and contribute to the Swedish defence capability. This order secures the Swedish Armed Forces supply of Carl-Gustaf ammunition and is a result of the weapon’s capacity and robustness,” says Micael Johansson, President and CEO of Saab.

The multipurpose Carl-Gustaf weapon has been in use by the Swedish Armed Forces since 1948. During year 2018, FMV signed a contract for deliveries of the latest iteration of the weapon; Carl-Gustaf M4. The wide range of ammunition available for Carl-Gustav further strengthens the system’s tactical flexibility, enabling faster engagement, increased hit probability and greater effectiveness for the soldiers.

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SOF Week 23 – DefendTex DRONE40 Update

Monday, May 15th, 2023

I first wrote about the DRONE40 during SOFIC 2019. Since then Australian manufacturer DefendTex has continued development.

Above is the latest version. Although it is designed to be launched from a side opening grenade launcher like the M320, it can also be hand launched after delpoying the four rotors which keep it aloft via an internal battery (10W). Playloads include ISR as well as kinetic options.

Below is the original model I mentioned in 2019. As you can see, the updated model is a bit longer.

It weighs around 190 grams depending on payload. Max loitering time is up to 30 minutes with a max flight distance of 20km and a max dash speed of 20m/s. It can be controlled via various apps on an EUD along with ISR downlink. However, it also offers autonomous flight characteristics (GPS-based) which also allow use of swarm tactics. Although there are explosive payload options, the DRONE40 can be reused for distraction, ISR, and EW missions. Below is the new stored form factor for safe transport.

DefendTex also developed a cassette launcher for the DRONE40 called HIVE, for up to six systems, which can be deployed as a stand-alone launcher or mounted to other platforms like the BANSHEE I wrote about during last fall’s Land Forces exhibition in Brisbane, Australia.

Posted in ISR, Munitions, SOF Week | 2 Comments »

Rheinmetall NIOA Munitions Ramps Ups As First Exports Roll Out

Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023

Defence manufacturer Rheinmetall NIOA Munitions’ Queensland artillery shell plant is growing exponentially as it takes another important step towards full-rate production.

The Maryborough factory’s workforce has more than doubled to 60 since this time last year, with another 30 vacancies to be filled by July.

The jobs surge comes as Rheinmetall Waffe Munitions CEO and Rheinmetall NIOA Munitions Chairman Roman Koehne toured the $90m facility for the first time to congratulate the team on the first international shipment to Germany.

A consignment of 155mm shells produced out of Maryborough recently landed at Rheinmetall’s Unterluess Test Centre where they successfully completed dynamic testing.

RNM uses cutting edge technology to produce 155mm artillery projectiles and metal parts for other munitions used by the Australian Defence Force as well as allied countries.

Rheinmetall Waffe Munitions CEO and Rheinmetall NIOA Munitions Chairman Roman Koehne with RNM Project Manager Jeff Crabtree, right, and NIOA Group CEO and RNM Deputy Chairman Rob Nioa at the Maryborough factory.

At full rate production, it will have a workforce of up to 100 with the ability to produce up to 100,000 projectiles a year running multiple shifts.

“Factories like this are the future,” Mr Koehne said. “The level of technology combined with highly-skilled people make this facility the most advanced of its kind in the world.

“The war in Ukraine has showed us that allied nations are increasingly looking for reliable sources that can manufacture the 155mm projectile.

“Rheinmetall has a great partnership with NIOA and together we believe that Maryborough has the potential to serve as a key link in the global munitions supply chain while building Australia’s defence manufacturing base.

“Germany, like Australia, requires certainty of supply for critical munitions to support our armed forces.

“We congratulate Jeff and the RNM team on what is an important milestone with the first batch of shells arriving at Rheinmetall in Germany.”

RNM Project Manager Jeff Crabtree said the demand for workers would continue as the plant accelerated capacity.

Roles include skilled and unskilled operators, trades and apprentices, quality control, IT and security, supply chain and administration support.

RNM staff with the first consignment of test shells exported to Germany

“This facility not only contributes to Australian and allied capability, but the benefits are clearly flowing through to the local economy,” he said.

“We have had some good success in attracting quality people from around the Wide Bay region, Queensland and internationally with a variety of skills and experience.

“As production increases, so will the demand to find more people. There are some great opportunities to be part of the team in a next-generation Australian defence manufacturer.”

Worldwide artillery supplies of the kind RNM produces are dwindling as the Ukraine war drains US and NATO stockpiles faster than they can be replenished.

155mm projectile on the Maryborough production line.

Rheinmetall NIOA Munitions Deputy Chairman and NIOA Group CEO Robert Nioa said NIOA would continue to invest in future defence capability.

“NIOA is committed to growing our defence industrial base well into the future. High-tech factories like RNM play a significant role in delivering that capability,” he said.

“Being able to produce our own ammunition in Australia is not only vital to our national resilience but it creates new jobs and new technologies as well as export potential.”

The joint venture RNM factory has had multi-level government backing with a $28.5m injection from the Federal Government’s Regional Growth Fund on top of $7.5m from the Queensland Government’s Jobs and Regional Growth Fund and support from the Fraser Coast regional council.

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Saab Receives Carl-Gustaf Ammunition Order from Lithuania

Friday, March 3rd, 2023

Saab has received an order from Lithuania’s Defence Materiel Agency for Carl-Gustaf® ammunition. The order value is SEK 145 million and deliveries will start during 2024.

The order is placed within a framework agreement initially signed between Saab and the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration, which allows Lithuania, together with Latvia and Estonia, to place orders for Carl-Gustaf M4 weapons and ammunition during a ten-year period.

“We are pleased to receive an additional order from Lithuania and are ready to continue to deliver our world-leading ground combat capabilities to the customer,” says Görgen Johansson, head of Saab’s business area Dynamics.

Proven to deliver results on the battlefield, the Carl-Gustaf provides the effectiveness soldiers need. The wide range of ammunition types available for Carl-Gustaf makes it flexible and able to handle any situation on the battlefield, whether it is to destroy an armoured vehicle or structure, or illuminating the battlefield during night-time operations.

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