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Saab Receives Order for RBS 70 NG from Canada

Friday, February 16th, 2024

Saab has received an order from the Government of Canada for the short-range air defence system RBS 70 NG. The order value is approximately CAD 227 million (SEK 1.8 billion) with deliveries starting during 2024.

The order includes all necessary equipment to operate the RBS 70 NG, including firing units, missiles, transport vehicles, training and support. Following a competitive procurement process, Saab’s offer was chosen to meet the urgent operational requirement for Canada’s Soldier Portable Air Defence System Program. Through this programme, Saab will provide long term air defence support to the Canadian Armed Forces, with a specific focus on their Enhanced Forward Presence in Latvia. As part of its offer, Saab has committed to creating Canadian content through its local office and Canada-based partners and suppliers.

“We are pleased to deliver our proven and efficient air defence solution RBS 70 NG, which is a critical capability for nations in the current environment”, says Saab’s President and CEO Micael Johansson.

RBS 70 NG is a short-range air defence system manufactured by Saab. It is characterised by its unjammable laser-beam guidance and auto-tracking technology. Saab has RBS 70 NG customers globally, including Brazil, the Czech Republic and Latvia.

Posted in Contracts, International, Munitions, Press Release | 3 Comments »

Saab Receives Order for AT4 from NATO Support and Procurement Agency

Wednesday, February 7th, 2024

Saab has received an order for the anti-armour weapon AT4 from the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA). The order value is approximately EUR 63 million (approximately SEK 700 million) and deliveries will take place 2026-2027. The order was booked in Q4 2023.

“Our AT4 stands out on the market as a highly sought-after and effective support weapon. We are honoured that the NSPA has trusted our products once again, and they can feel confident that they have a leading single-shot weapon that is robust and reliable,” says Görgen Johansson, head of Saab’s business area Dynamics.

The AT4 series comprises a selection of easily manoeuvrable, lightweight, and disposable weapons designed for straightforward operation by a single soldier. Capable of countering tanks, heavy combat vehicles, and threats within structures and fortifications, the AT4 also serves to safeguard fixed installations, supply points, and other critical assets. Read more about AT4: www.saab.com/products/at4.

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Spike Missile Integrated into Apache Helicopter at Yuma Proving Ground

Friday, December 22nd, 2023

YUMA PROVING GROUND, Ariz. — A primary responsibility of U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground is to support developmental testing to improve existing weapons systems, even on platforms considered the most lethal of their kind.

A recent example of this is testing in support of an airworthiness release that will allow the Spike non-line of site missile to be integrated into the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter.

Always identified with state-of-the-art sensors and precision guidance systems, as well as lethal air-to-surface missiles like the Hellfire, the Apache will now boast a precision weapon with more than four times the range of the iconic missile.

“Our plan is to field next summer,” said Maj. Brian Haley, assistant product manager for Program Manager Apache. “We are going rapidly from this culminating test event to fielding. It is an awesome capability that I think will be a game-changer.”

Over the course of five days in December 2023, testers fired eight full-up rounds in a variety of test scenarios at the proving ground: day and night shots, against both moving and static targets such as a mock SA-22 and a Dodge Dakota truck, at different distances, from hovers close up to more than 30 kilometers away.

In more than one fire, the Apache dropped down in altitude and even turned 180 degrees as the missile sped toward its target to intentionally lose link with the round to verify it would still hit the target on its automatic track: the link was reestablished before impact in one test and intentionally not reestablished in another.

The Spike missile is also able to disable the warhead mid-flight, and one test verified this, hitting a target board like a slug. The test included acoustic sensors to gather sound data on its impact.

“The flight restriction algorithm on the Spike is pretty robust,” said Cole Sutter, YPG test officer. “It has an intended and expected flight area, and when it leaves that expected flight area it induces a roll to land within the surface danger zone.”

Aviation testers appreciate YPG’s vast ranges and variety of realistic targets as they put the weapon through its paces in a variety of situations and altitudes. YPG’s natural desert environment also contributes significantly to the realism of the testing. The Spike had three successful test shots in January 2023 for integration qualification and had been demonstrated at the proving ground in 2019 and during Project Convergence 2021.

“We’ve had a relationship with Yuma for four years now,” said Haley. “It has the range space, the facilities, and frequency management requirements that are specific to us. Other ranges have different resource challenges that we don’t have here.”

Information gathered during the test will not only validate fielding the weapon, but also contribute new insights into reconfiguring existing pods on the Apache to accommodate more missiles, as well as in training combat pilots on how to use the Spike for maximum effect.

By Mark Schauer

Editor’s note: Spike Non Line of Sight (NLOS) is part of the Spike Fire-and-Forget family of missiles manufactured by Israel’s Rafael. It was selected in 2020 by the US Army as their Interim-Long Range Precision Munition.

Here is a Lockheed Martin press release on the test . They accomplished the system integration and offer Spike in the US.

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L3Harris and NIOA Announce Guided Weapons Collaboration in Australia

Monday, November 6th, 2023

SYDNEY, Nov. 7, 2023 – Aerojet Rocketdyne, an L3Harris Technologies [NYSE:LHX] company, and Australian-owned defence prime NIOA have announced a strategic agreement to explore the manufacturing of critical guided weapons components in Australia.

The agreement anticipates the future assembly and manufacture of rocket motors, boosters and warheads for munitions within the Aerojet Rocketdyne portfolio. This portfolio covers the wide range of weapons within Australia’s sovereign Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise.

“As part of a world-leading technology company, Aerojet Rocketdyne is pleased to embark on this project to bring rocket motor and warhead manufacturing to Australia,” said Ross Niebergall, President, Aerojet Rocketdyne. “Our company is uniquely positioned to provide the intellectual property for a wide range of propulsion systems used by the Commonwealth. Growing our capability in Australia will provide opportunities for Australian companies to contribute to the global supply chain for guided weapons.”

Speaking on the eve of the INDO PACIFIC 2023 international defence exhibition in Sydney, NIOA Group CEO Robert Nioa said, “As a 100% Australian-owned company, NIOA is excited to be entering this strategic agreement with Aerojet Rocketdyne to address critical munitions priorities for Australia.

“Ultimately we aim to create a multi-user rocket motor facility that will not only support our portfolio of offerings but will also have capacity and flexibility to support future strategic partners to meet the guided weapon demands as identified by the Australian Defence Force as well as adjacent industry sectors like space.

“This logical grouping of the main elements of the rocket motor, warhead and booster supply chains can deliver economies of scale that will maintain the production volumes needed to sustain critical skillsets. Forward deployed logistics and co-production initiatives in the Indo-Pacific region with Australia’s close allies are central to our model. This facility will also boost regional employment and will provide substantial opportunities for local companies to get involved in the supply chain.”

The Australian Government’s Defence Strategic Review released earlier this year emphasized the rapid establishment of a domestic GWEO manufacturing capability. The government responded by committing $2.5 billion to accelerate a sovereign industry to improve the Australian Defence Force’s self-reliance and the nation’s export capacity.

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GM Defense and Anduril Announce Teaming Agreement

Tuesday, October 17th, 2023

WASHINGTON, D.C. — GM Defense LLC, a subsidiary of General Motors (GM), and Anduril Industries, Inc. announced a teaming agreement, establishing a framework to collaborate on defense program capture activities. The team is focused on delivering autonomy solutions, battery electrification and other new propulsion technologies, as well as those integrating the full range of Anduril technologies onto GM Defense mobility solutions.

During the Association of the U.S. Army tradeshow in Washington, D.C. both companies showcased variations of the proven and fielded Infantry Squad Vehicle. GM Defense had a four-seat Multi-Mission and Logistics ISV equipped with Anduril loitering munitions. Anduril hosted GM Defense’s nine-Soldier ISV, currently fielded to the U.S. Army’s 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions, in addition to Lattice, Anduril’s sensor, network, and system-agnostic open software platform, for land systems command and control.

“GM Defense has a strong strategic alignment with Anduril as we are both focused on bringing disruptive new technologies into the defense and government marketplace to deliver innovative solutions for our customers,” said Steve duMont, GM Defense president. “We feel this is a powerful team, and together we can make a strong offering for key U.S. defense programs while assessing other global opportunities.”

With experience in ground vehicle autonomy, sensing, vehicle safety systems and connected vehicle fleet analytics, GM Defense develops solutions based on the advanced technologies of its parent company, General Motors, that help advance warfighter capabilities with some of the most advanced technologies available on the commercial market.

Anduril is a leading provider of advanced defense technologies, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems and integrated defense solutions. “We are thrilled to be working with GM Defense to produce new capabilities for land systems. Advanced software for mission-level autonomy can transform ground systems, and GM Defense will be a critical teammate to deliver next-generation land systems for warfighters around the world,” said Anduril Industries CEO, Brian Schimpf.

For the latest GM Defense news, please visit www.GMDefenseLLC.com and follow GM Defense on LinkedIn.

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UVision Air Launches Revolutionary Hero-90: a Portable Tactical Loitering Munition System with Anti-Strike Capabilities, for Dismounted Soldiers

Wednesday, October 4th, 2023

Tailored for front-line forces operating on air, land and sea, the Hero-90 introduces a level of lethality previously only available with larger, bulkier loitering munitions systems.

AUSA 2023, 9-11 October, Washington DC, Hall A-C Stand 4139

October 03 ,2023: UVision Air Ltd. – a global leader in loitering munition systems of all sizes, for a variety of missions, is launching the Hero-90 – a highly-portable loitering munition system, that streamlines logistics and field operations with versatile anti-tank, multi-purpose and anti-personnel capabilities.

Compatible with the Common Launch Tube, the Hero-90 can be deployed from multiple launch platforms; easily integrating into a wide range of pre-existing assets, it enhances operational flexibility in a cost-effective way.

Ensuring minimal logistics and simplified setup and deployment procedures, the Hero-90 is lightweight, easily carried and operated by the dismounted soldier, and can be launched in less than two minutes. Designed to bring unprecedented lethality, it empowers small tactical units operating in challenging environments, giving them unprecedented autonomy on the battlefield of the future.

The Hero-90 is equipped with a high-yield warhead of over 1.5Kg, providing significant and precise power to effectively neutralize a wide range of threats – from soft targets and light vehicles, to armored vehicles and battle tanks – at a range exceeding 40km. Loitering over the target area, its operational range affords operators the time needed for target identification and optimal attack planning, and enables selection of attack patterns and detonation modes in real time.

Further maximizing operational flexibility, the Hero-90 supports mid-mission adjustments, including attack abort and re-engage, and the transfer of control between Hero teams, regardless of their location – whether on ground, airborne or maritime. All this is made possible through UVision’s state-of-the-art, ruggedized, Fire Control Unit (FCU), common to all Hero family assets.

The Hero-90’s CONOPS (Concept of Operation) and performance benefit from the latest advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI), enhancing the warfighters’ effectiveness during operation, by enabling them to focus on mission-critical tasks.

Major General (Ret.) Avi Mizrachi, CEO of UVision Air, emphasized the critical importance of meeting the demands of rapidly evolving symmetric and asymmetric warfare arenas, saying:”The Hero-90 has been developed to empower tactical forces and infantry in the field with a multi-domain, multi-purpose, man-portable loitering munition system that stands as the best in its class. Its compatibility with various military platforms, coupled with its portability, gives a significant advantage to any force.

With the growing demand for UVision’s solutions, and as part of its strong commitment to its clients, the company has also announced the establishment of a manufacturing line for the Hero-120 system in the United States.

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The XM919 Individual Assault Munition

Wednesday, September 27th, 2023

During yesterday’s briefing by Joint Program Executive Office Ammunition at the Future Forces Capabilities conference in Huntsville, Alabama, they mentioned the XM919 Individual Assault Munition, a new close combat lethality capability which seems to have flown under the radar.

Turns out, Picatinny issued a request for proposal (RFP) in August for the production of the XM919 Individual Assault Munition (IAM), utilizing Full and Open Competition (F&OC) procedures.

Intended to replace the M72 LAW, M136 and M136A1 AT-4 anti-tank weapons, and M141 Bunker Defeat Munition, the XM919 IAM tactical munition is a disposable, lightweight, single shot, multi-target, and Fire from Enclosure (FFE) capable Shoulder Launched Munition (SLM).

The XM919 IAM is for combat units at the squad level, employed by an individual Soldier. This will reduce the Soldier’s need to carry multiple systems, as they will no longer have to choose between an anti-armor or an anti-structure capability.

According the the Army the full XM919 IAM system consists of the XM919 IAM tactical munition and training devices to include the XM922 Sub-Caliber Trainer, associated Sub-Caliber Tracer Cartridge, Field Handling Trainer (FHT), and spare parts.

Due to the Full and Open competition aspect of the Army’s effort, they are relying on industry to deliver the desired effect. Market surveys in previous years have led the Army to believe that industry is more than capable of making this happen.

For example, General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems division released this video of their Individual Assault Munition during last year’s AUSA.

We will keep you up to date as the Army continues to pursue this new capability which is expected to begin fielding in FY26.

Posted in Army, Munitions, NDIA | 1 Comment »

Rheinmetall NIOA Munitions Triumphs on National Stage

Monday, September 25th, 2023

Defence manufacturer Rheinmetall NIOA Munitions’ Queensland artillery shell factory has won a major industry award.

RNM, a joint venture between Rheinmetall Waffe Munitions GmbH and Australian-owned NIOA, has been named Manufacturer of the Year at the Australian Defence Industry Awards.

RNM was also a finalist in the Exporter of the Year category, having despatched its first consignment of ammunition to Germany earlier this year.

The $90m Maryborough facility is the most advanced large calibre artillery plant of its kind in the world specialising in the 155mm projectiles which are fired out of the M777 Howitzer cannons.

At full rate production, the plant will have a workforce of up to 100 with the ability to produce up to 100,000 projectiles a year supplying the Australian Defence Force as well as allied export markets.

More than 800 people attended the black-tie Defence Connect dinner at the National Convention Centre in Canberra last Thursday night (Eds: September 21) with 144 finalists competing for honours in 29 categories across defence primes, SMEs and individuals including executives, scientists, technicians and marketers.

Rheinmetall NIOA Munitions General Manager Jeff Crabtree with the award for 2023 Defence Manufacturer of the Year; and a technician at the Maryborough-based factory works on an artillery shell which RNM is producing for the ADF and allied nations.

RNM General Manager Jeff Crabtree said the prestigious accolade recognised RNM’s role as an emerging player in the defence sector.

“We are incredibly proud,” he said. “This is recognition of an Australian-first munitions manufacturing capability, allowing regional Queensland to become an important player in the global munitions supply network.”

Rheinmetall Waffe Munitions CEO and RNM Chairman Roman Koehne said: “We congratulate Jeff and the team in Maryborough. RNM is a great example of an advanced manufacturing business that is playing a valuable role in building Australia’s defence industrial base.”

NIOA Group CEO and RNM Deputy Chairman Rob Nioa said the award acknowledged the company’s commitment to supporting defence industrial capability and skilled regional jobs, as well as its pivotal role in building national resilience.

“Before the establishment of the RNM facility there was no capability in Australia to forge 155mm or other large calibre shells,” he said. “The RNM forge has created a completely new skillset in the Australian defence industry.”

RNM has been held up as a “model example” of a genuine commitment and collaborative approach between various levels of government and industry to fast-track sovereign capability.

It was built within two years and 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.

Posted in Industry, International, Munitions, Press Release | 1 Comment »