GBRS Group has been issued US Patent 11,733,004B2 for their HYDRA Mount which is a dual optic mount. It was designed to offer a 2.91” Optic Centerline for faster target ID, regardless of gear/ equipment obstructions, ie. EarPro/Comms headsets, Gas masks/ CBRN, and Night vision use.
Jankel, a world-leader in the design and manufacture of high-specification defence, security and NGO vehicle platforms and protection systems, has announced the launch of their Future Toyota Platform Strategy.
Jankel, a world-leader in the design and manufacture of high-specification defence, security and NGO vehicle platforms and protection systems, has announced the launch of their Future Toyota Platform Strategy. Jankel is a long-established supplier of Toyota based military and civilian armoured vehicles (CAVs) and this new strategy has been developed in anticipation of the recently announced developments from Toyota in their forward vehicle line-up. The Jankel strategy will ensure that a full and common range of Toyota platforms remain available to their global customer base as a fleet solution covering tactical, armoured and general-purpose roles.
This announcement coincides with the DSEi exhibition where Jankel are exhibiting on stand H4-604. Amongst their range of products and services on display is the Fox Rapid Reaction Vehicle demonstrated with Generic Vehicle Architecture (GVA) and a stabilised and ultra-light Remote Weapon Station from SIG Sauer.
The future strategy incorporates the proven range of Jankel tactical conversions integrated with the very latest Toyota developments which includes the announcement from Toyota of the new Land Cruiser along with convergence in configurations and specifications across the Hilux and 70 series platforms. Jankel’s range of proven armoured and tactical 4×4 and 6×6 Fox variants will not only benefit from this immediate commonality (including a common diesel powertrain and automatic transmission option) but will also be future proofed through emerging technologies including the introduction of an electrified powertrain (available in 2024).
Jankel’s relationship with the Toyota product line goes back over 25 years and has seen them deliver over 2000 Toyota-based vehicles, to customers all over the world. In July 2023, Jankel celebrated the milestone of having delivered over 500 Toyota-based Fox tactical platforms that are now in service with 15 end user groups globally, with the Fox battle-proven on multiple operations.
Andrew Jankel, Chairman at Jankel Group said: “I’m pleased to announce the launch of our new strategy which leverages the very latest products from Toyota. We know the credibility and capability of the Toyota vehicles, and our strategy builds upon our proven range of platforms whilst offering significant commonality benefits for years to comeâ€. He added, “We’re in a unique position with the new Toyota and our proven armoured and tactical developments to offer our global customer base a common fleet solution on a world leading and prolific base platforms”.
Edgar Brothers is delighted to announce that we have been awarded a Contract to supply the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) with the Alternative Individual Weapon (AIW) System, following a highly competitive trial process.
The AIW will consist of three elements:
– Rifle System: Rifle and Signature Reduction System
– Optic System: Low Power Variable Optic (LPVO), Mini Red Dot (RDS) and Emergency Back Up Sight (EBS)
– Training System: Safe Blank Firing System (SBFS) and Marker Round Training System (MRTS)
As the Prime Contractor and UK Distributors, Edgar Brothers will be utilising a range of battle-proven products from suppliers from around the world to deliver the chosen solution.
These include:
– Knight’s Armament Company (KAC) and their KS-1 Rifle, PRT suppressors, and Safe Blank Firing System (SBFS)
– Vortex Optics and their 1-10x LPVO
– Aimpoint and their ACRO P-2 MRD
– Reptilia and their AUS Mount, ROF 90 Mount, Dot Mount & various other accessories
– Magpul and their PMAG, MBUS PRO EBS and other accessories
– Simunition and their line of FX Conversion Kits and PPE to work with the in-service MRTS ammunition
As part of the initial requirements, the Contract will also include several firm requirements Edgar Brothers must undertake to improve Social Value in the UK, these will cover the five key themes stipulated in The Social Value Model.
Mike Newman, Director of Edgar Brothers, commented, “Project Hunter is an extremely complex programme that pushed the limits of innovation for the modern personal weapon system, yet remained practical for industry to implement. As a testimony to Knights Armament and Edgar Brothers’ dedication, plus our industry partners Vortex, Reptilia, Aimpoint, and Magpul, the KS-1 rifle system was born and has earned recognition after undergoing rigorous testing. The base weapon, combined with market-leading Surveillance Target Acquisition (STA) and ancillaries has now set a new standard.”
Newman continued, “As with every programme we undertake, Edgar Brothers’ main goal is to enhance the soldiers’ capabilities to effectively perform their mission. We are now looking forward to working alongside the Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) team to bring the system into service. This Contract win strengthens our growth trajectory and provides us with the opportunity to expand our team by hiring exceptional talent from our local community. We are privileged to supply what we believe to be the finest personal weapon system in the world to the UK MOD.”
Col Paul Cummings, DE&S Dismounted Close Combat Portfolio Leader, said: “Project Hunter has been a fabulous example of close collaboration between the user community, Defence Equipment and Support, and industry to deliver game-changing capability at pace. This will deliver improved lethality into the hands of the Army Special Operations Brigade and is the latest in a range of improved capabilities being operated by the new Ranger Battalions. We look forward to continuing to work closely with Edgar Brothers as we move into the production phase.”
For more information about Edgar Brothers and our products, please visit:
Edgar Brothers will the full system on display at DSEI, booth H2-588.
British troops will soon be more lethal on the battlefield, as a new £90 million contract delivers modern, high precision rifles.
From:
Ministry of Defence and James Cartlidge MP
Published
7 September 2023
The new advanced rifle.
• New rifle provides UK troops with an improved lethal capability on the battlefield.
• Rifle more discreet through sight and hearing signature reduction.
• Up to 10,000 weapons could be procured over the next 10 years.
British troops will soon be more lethal on the battlefield, as a new £90 million contract delivers modern, high precision rifles.
The Alternative Individual Weapon (AIW) system – known as the L403A1 and procured by Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) under Project HUNTER – is made up of a new assault rifle fitted with a muzzle signature reduction system and an improved optical sighting system.
The AIW is a modern rifle using the latest in design technology and manufacturing methods, to produce an exceptionally reliable and accurate weapon. The magnified optic means the user is able to engage threats from greater distances; whilst the signature reduction system works to mask the AIW from detection from sight and hearing.
Supplementing the current in-service L85A3, the AIW system has been secured under a £90 million contract with Macclesfield-based company Edgar Brothers, supporting the Prime Minister’s priority to grow the economy by helping sustain approximately 50 jobs at the family-owned company.
Minister for Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge said:
This is another example of how we are committed to investing in the most advanced battlefield equipment to back our troops on the battlefield. This advanced rifle’s ability to help soldiers maintain the stealth edge not only protects them but delivers war-fighting advantage over our adversaries.
An initial £15 million order of 1,620 AIW systems has been placed, with options to procure up to 10,000 systems – totalling £90 million – under the contract over the next decade. The systems will initially be fielded to the Army Special Operations Brigade (ASOB) who operate in complex, high threat environments.
DE&S Dismounted Close Combat Portfolio Leader, Colonel Paul Cummings, said:
Project Hunter has been a fabulous example of close collaboration with the user community and strong engagement with industry to deliver game-changing capability at pace. This is another example of the enormous commitment of the men and women in DCC to deliver battle-winning capability into the hands of the user and I’m enormously proud of what they have achieved. We look forward to continuing to work closely with Edgar Brothers as we move into the production phase.
The L403A1 is a high performing modern development of the ArmaLite Rifle (AR), which pushes the boundaries of modern performance. As an AR system, it shares much in common with the rifle systems used by many of the UK’s allies. Given their specialist role, and the critical task of working with and alongside many of the UK’s allies, the platform will enable ASOB to share skills and drills in an efficient manner.
Lt Col Gareth Davies, SO1 SoldierWorks, Military Capability Delivery, Army Headquarters, said:
Project HUNTER has successfully delivered a new weapon option for UK Defence. At the current time this is being procured for the Army Special Operations Brigade (ASOB). It offers a marked increase in lethality, and the system includes one of most capable day sights currently available. Importantly the weapon system will be further enhanced by our newest generation of night optics, with which the ASOB are already equipped.
As a key component of the ASOB, the Ranger Regiment will receive the AIW later this year. Made up of four battalions, the Rangers deployed to over 60 countries in their first 12 months of operation, following their formation as part Future Soldier under the Defence Command Paper 2021.
A first shipment of new ammunition for the Gepard antiaircraft tank is now headed for Ukraine. Per agreement, Rheinmetall AG of Düsseldorf has shipped a first lot of 35mm air defence ammunition as part of German support for Ukraine’s defensive struggle. By the end of this year, 40,000 rounds are to be produced and provided.
In Ukraine the shipments from Germany are eagerly awaited: with its 35mm twin guns, the Gepard has emerged as a decisive factor in the embattled nation’s fight to defend itself. The German government has made 46 of these antiaircraft tanks available, with another six to follow. For Ukraine, they play an essential part in the struggle to control its airspace, having proved highly effective in countering the kamikaze drones Russia uses to attack Ukrainian cities. They are almost permanently in action, making ammunition consumption correspondingly high.
Rheinmetall has long produced much of its ammunition for medium-calibre weapons in Switzerland; now, however, new production capacity for supplying the Gepard systems has been created in Germany, where a multimillion-euro figure has been invested in plant and equipment.
In February 2023 Boris Pistorius, the German defence minister, announced at a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group that capacity for producing ammunition for the Gepard would be created in Germany at Rheinmetall. A contract for the rapid delivery of a total of 300,000 rounds of ammunition for the antiaircraft tank had already been signed several days earlier. Owing to the urgency and high political relevance of the project, the pressure to complete the new facility was immense from day one, requiring a true technological and logistical tour de force.
In the words of Rheinmetall AG executive board chairman Armin Papperger, “We keep our promises. Just six months after signing the contract, we’ve already started delivery, as agreed. My sincere thanks go to the men and women of Rheinmetall who have done so much to make this project a success, even working on weekends. Our subcontractors and vendors deserve praise as well, having helped us to achieve what at first seemed impossible. The pressure to succeed was huge – but so was our commitment to getting the job done. We want to help the people of Ukraine. Every drone that’s shot down saves lives!”
The German government left no stone unturned in its effort to supply Ukraine with fresh ammunition, including abroad – albeit in vain. In Germany stocks of the ammunition had dropped to zero, as the Gepard systems had been retired from service some fifteen years earlier. Other countries declined to make available existing stocks of ammunition, citing either political considerations or constitutional restrictions.
In the end, it was a tightly woven intermeshing of expertise of Rheinmetall technicians and engineers in Switzerland, Germany and Italy that made creating the new production facility possible.
The problem: earlier tools for producing the original ammunition were simply no longer there. The solution turned out to be a mix of reverse engineering and adaptive development quite unlike anything seen before: existing 35mm ammunition from the main armament of an infantry fighting vehicle was modified for use in the Gepard. Making sure that the Gepard fire control unit could reliably recognize the ammunition was a special challenge.
Despite their excellent performance, the electronics and fire control technology of the aging antiaircraft tank – developed in the 1960s – proved to be a veritable black box. At the same time, the supply chain for the new ammunition had to be expanded in order to minimize as far as possible the Swiss value-added share.
As Armin Papperger puts it, “We have an unbeatable strength at Rheinmetall: namely, the broad-based expertise that comes with being a systems house. Whether in ammunition development, mechanical production and materials knowledge, in the development of air defence weaponry, in comprehensive live fire testing, in the design and construction of production facilities – everywhere our experts worked with tremendous drive and great personal commitment to complete the project. They knew how urgently Ukraine needed the ammunition – and the sooner, the better.”
Following multiple tests at the Group’s proving ground at Unterlüss in Lower Saxony, the verification programme was concluded in May 2023 when the ammunition was successfully fired by a Gepard antiaircraft tank.
Meanwhile, at one of Rheinmetall’s civil sector plants in Neuss, an LAAP line was designed and subsequently built at a Group facility in Lanciano, Italy, before being transferred to Unterlüss. LAP stands for loading, assembly and packing, the process in which the cartridges are loaded with propellant; the various parts of the round are put together; and subsequently packaged. The propellant powder comes from Nitrochemie, by the way, another member of the Group.
A total of 40,000 rounds are to be delivered this year. Ukraine will be receiving 150,000 rounds each of two different types of ammunition. One of these is a subcalibre APDS-T munition containing heavy metal penetrators, and thus especially suitable for engaging hardened targets. Rheinmetall is also supplying Ukraine with conventional HEI-T high-explosive incendiary ammunition designed for bringing down typical air defence targets, e.g., aircraft and guided missiles.
According to a report by Bloomberg, Amer Sports has confidentially filed for a US initial public offering which could value the business somewhere around $10 billion. With plans to offer stock by early next year, they are said to be seeking somewhere between $1 billion and $3 billion.
Currently, the majority share of Amer Sports is owned by China’s Anta Sports Products Ltd which purchased the company from a Finnish group in 2019 for $5.2 billion. Other members of the Amer Sports ownership group include Tencent Holdings Ltd and Canadian Chip Wilson, founder of Lululemon Athletica Inc. Interestingly, there is currently more Canadian ownership now of Arc’teryx than there was before the Anta Sports group purchased the brand.
The report states that “Representatives for Anta and Amer Sports declined to comment.“
London, 30/08/23 — Fine Group, a global leader in textile innovation with roots tracing back to 1948, is excited to announce its attendance at the upcoming DSEI (Defence and Security Equipment International) Trade Show. With its established history of innovative textile solutions and its dual manufacturing bases in the UK and the Far East, Fine Group invites attendees to discuss bespoke textile needs and explore what the company can do for them.
About Fine Group
Founded in 1948 by Captain Henry Fine of the Royal Army Service Corps, the company began with a resourceful idea to recycle used WWII barrage balloons into bags and tents for a post-war Britain facing material scarcity. From those humble beginnings in Kings Cross, the company has expanded over the years, maintaining a steadfast commitment to innovation and quality.
Today, Fine Group has design and manufacturing facilities in both the UK and the Far East, supported by a resourceful global supply chain. The company has carved a unique niche for itself, especially in extreme and technically demanding fields. This positions Fine Group at the forefront of textile innovation, enabling it to meet some of the most challenging requirements.
The DSEI Trade Show
At the DSEI Trade Show, Fine Group aims to discuss its state-of-the-art textile solutions that are at the intersection of technology and durability. Attendees are invited to engage in one-on-one discussions with experts from Fine Group about their specific textile needs, whether it be for defence, outdoor expeditions, or other specialised applications.
Get in Touch
We invite all interested parties attending the DSEI Trade Show to connect with us. Learn how our innovative textile solutions can be tailored to meet your unique challenges.
To pre-schedule a meeting with our team or to find out more information, please contact:
Stephen Daniels: stephen@finegroup.co.uk
Ben O’Toole: ben@finegroup.co.uk
“We’re excited to meet professionals who are as passionate about innovation as we are. DSEI provides the perfect platform for us to connect with industry experts and potential clients interested in pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in textile solutions,” said Trevor Payne, Managing Director at Fine Group.
A Game-Changer That Redefines Future Battlefield Capabilities: The Type-X RCV, The First Robotic Combat Vehicle Equipped With A Mixed Reality Situational Awareness System.
Europe’s leading robotics and autonomous systems developer Milrem Robotics will present the Type-X Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV), the first-of-its-kind equipped with a mixed reality situational awareness system (MRSAS) at DSEI 2023 in London.
The Vegvisir Remote MRSAS enhances the decision making of Type-X operators by giving them a 360-degree virtual dome with EO/IR sensor fusion for both close and medium proximity vision and target engagement capabilities in any condition. The system is optimised for lower bandwidth for remote use and connects the operator into a digital hub to interact and consume digital data.
“Milrem Robotics continues the development of the Type-X RCV by integrating cutting edge technologies to address the requirements of many countries interested in intelligent robotic systems, especially the Nordics and Western Europe, but also the US,” said Kuldar Väärsi, CEO of Milrem Robotics.
In addition to the new cutting-edge situational awareness system, the Type-X is equipped with KONGSBERG’s latest and best PROTECTOR Medium Calibre Turret that is changeable to specifically meet the particular needs of various end-users. The combination, that has passed several live firing tests, gives mechanized units the means to breach enemy defensive positions with minimal risk to their own troops.
The Type-X is also integrated with the QUADBOX by Elistair, that consists of a tactical tethered UAS for ISR, and communications relay designed to further enhance situational awareness for extended periods whilst on the move.
The Type-X RCV along with other Milrem Robotics’ products can be found at stand no H4-122.
The Type-X RCV is an organic part of mechanized units that can take the most dangerous positions and provide equal or overmatching firepower and tactical usage compared to traditional Infantry Fighting Vehicles.
It was developed to navigate the battlefield autonomously, with a human-in-the-loop control system and artificial intelligence (AI) as an integral part of the operating algorithm. With the Type-X Milrem Robotics also introduces a feature called Indirect Drive that allows remote controlled operations on higher speeds.
Milrem Robotics is the leading European robotics and autonomous systems developer and systems integrator, with offices in Estonia, Finland, Sweden, the Netherlands and the US. The company is known for their THeMIS and Multiscope UGVs, the Type-X Robotic Combat Vehicle and the MIFIK autonomy kit.
