By TOC on Jun 17, 2022 KYIV ($1=29.54 Ukrainian Hryvnias) — Ukraine‘s defense forces have struck a Russian tugboat carrying weapons and ammunition to the conquered Snake Island. This was announced by the Navy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. There was a 9K330 TOR all-weather low to medium altitude, short-range surface-to-air missile system on board the tug. It is designed to solve the problems of air and missile defense. Russian tug Vasily Bekh transported ammunition, weapons, and personnel of the Russian occupation forces to the island. “Even the presence of the Thor anti-aircraft missile system on board did not prevent the Ukrainian Navy from demilitarizing the Russian invaders,” the Ukrainian Navy said. The Russian tugboat was hit by two missiles. This is probably the first time the Ukrainian Navy has used Harpoon anti-ship missiles against invaders in the Black Sea. For reference: Built in the Astrakhan shipyard tug Vasily Bekh with a displacement of 1605 tons joined the Black Sea Fleet of Russia in 2017. The crew consists of 26 people and has 36 seats on board for additional staff or for those who are saved. Photo: US Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kevin V. Cunningham Recently, Defense Minister Alexei Reznikov said Ukraine had already strengthened its own coastal defense with anti-ship systems with Harpoon missiles. Weapons to protect the Ukrainian coast from the Russian occupiers were handed over to Ukraine by foreign partners [Denmark], who support it in the fight against the Russian armed forces. It also became known that Ukraine will receive from the United States two Harpoon coastal missile systems. This is a new type of launcher that is not in service in the United States itself. https://bulgarianmilitary.com/2022/06/17/two-harpoon-anti-ship-missiles-hit-a-russian-ship-ukraine-claims/

By Boyko Nikolov On May 7, 2022 PANAGYURISHTE, ($1=1.85 Bulgarian Levs) — Sending Western weapons to Ukraine is a challenge not only for logistics capabilities but also for their integration. Officially, Washington plans to send “laser-guided rocket equipment” to Kyiv. Nearly 48 hours ago, the Pentagon officially confirmed that these would be Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II or APKWS II rocket worth a total of $ 22.6 million. Photo credit: Defence & Security Monitor If the logistics have already worked out well in recent months [USA – Germany to the arms depot in Stuttgart], then specifically [and not only] in this case remains the question of what platform will be launched donated APKWS II. APKWS II can be launched from the air. There are several known platforms: different variants of already current rotary-wing aircraft [UH-1Y Venom, AH-1W Super Cobra, AH-1Z Viper, Bell 407GT, AH-64 Apache, Eurocopter Tiger, MH-60S / R Seahawk] or with fixed-wing [AV-8B Harrier II, OV-10 Bronco, F-16 Fighting Falcon, A-10 Thunderbolt II], as well as on platforms currently under development. As can be seen from the listed platforms, Ukraine does not have any of them. Experts suggest that the Ukrainians may try to integrate APKWS II on the Mi-17 Hip helicopter, which the United States has already provided to Ukraine from the military equipment used in Afghanistan. The problem is that these helicopters are not equipped with a laser pointer to guide the missile. Of course, there is a second option – the rocket to be fired from a helicopter and a laser from the ground to guide the rocket.. This is unlikely! APKWS II on Bayraktar TB2 Photo credit: Wikipedia There is no known information so far that APKWS II was fired from a drone. But if we turn “out of the box” and change our minds from another angle, Bayraktar TB2 is the most suitable and possible candidate for launching APKWS II. Ukraine has two dozen of these drones [although there are data on at least six downed Bayraktr TB2 by the Russians] and they have important characteristics. Bayraktar TB2 has an integrated laser pointer, can carry sizes and weights comparable to those of American rockets [in this case APKWS II], and already launches laser-guided rockets [tested only with Turkish missiles]. Moreover, Bayraktar TB2 should carry the Turkish CIRIT rocket from Roketsan, which is the closest in terms of APKWS II. For soft to lightly armored targets APKWS II is a perfect weapon and any drone made in Turkey can theoretically carry many of them. More about APKWS II APKWS was created to convert an unguided missile [in this case a Hydra 70 missile with laser guidance] into a precision-guided missile. According to official data from the Pentagon, APKWS II is the only 70mm laser-guided rocket in the inventory of the US Army. APKWS II works in integration with Hydra 70 and thus Hudra70 receives laser search devices for each of the four pop-up front fins that unfold after the rocket is launched. I.e. – in plain language APKWS II converts ‘dumb rockets’ into ‘smart rockets.’ The dimensions of APKWS II are as follows: length: 73.8 in [1.87 m], diameter: 2.75 in [70 mm] and Wingspan: 9.55 in [24.3 cm]. According to official data, the weight of the rocket is 32 lb [15 kg]. APKWS II can develop a top speed of 1,000 m / s [3,600 km / h; 2,200 mph; Mach 2.9]. Depending on the platform, the rocket has a different range: if it is launched from an aircraft with a rotary-wing, the operational range is from 1,100 to 5,000 meters, if it is launched from a fixed-wing, the operational range is from 2,000 to 11,000 meters. As already mentioned, the guidance system is of the semi-active laser homing type, and the possible error radius is within 5 meters. The rocket is powered by Existing Hydra 70 motors and is armed with an Existing Hydra 70 warhead. APKWS II is manufactured by BAE Systems and has been in service with the US Army since 2012. https://bulgarianmilitary.com/2022/05/07/us-made-apkws-ii-laser-guided-rocket-on-ukrainian-bayraktar-tb2/

By Boyko Nikolovon Jun 18, 2022 WASHINGTON — Another country has wanted to acquire the latest version of the 4 ++ generation F-16 Block 70 fighter, and this is the Kingdom of Jordan. The Middle East country has ordered eight fighter jets, but there is a problem: orders from Bahrain, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Morocco, and Taiwan are waiting in the production line. Photo credit: Wikipedia The F-16’s production line has been relocated in recent years to Lockheed Martin‘s newly built production facilities in South Carolina. However, the United States has temporarily suspended production there and is not expected to resume until 2023. The first deliveries of new aircraft are not expected until 2024 at the earliest. The South Carolina plant has not yet completed a full order. The last order and delivery were 36 F-16IQ fighters for the Iraqi Air Force, but they were built in Fort Worth, Texas. In the meantime, 16 machines are to be built for Bahrain, 14 for Slovakia, 25 for Morocco, 66 for Taiwan, and eight for Bulgaria. Therefore, the Jordanian order will not be able to be fulfilled in the coming years. Currently, Jordan’s combat aircraft consists of 59 F-16 – 44 A / AM versions and 15 B / BM versions. Jordanians may buy eight more than the eight currently ordered, as the US State Department’s approval covers the sale of up to 16 units [12 single and four double]. The current order is half as small, probably for financial reasons, as it was recently for Bulgaria. The Jordanian order shows that interest in the Fighting Falcon is not waning and, as the manufacturer predicts, there will probably be more people willing to buy hundreds of these aircraft. They are attractive in terms of value for money, especially after the creation of the Block 70/72 variant and the F-16V package, which are based on solutions developed for F-35 aircraft of the 5th generation and allow the detection of targets in more -longer distances and the use of more modern types of weapons precision air-ground class. At the same time, Poland is interested in the American F-16 Block 70/72 fighters as it is one of the countries producing elements for this fighter, engaging the production capabilities of the PZL Mielec plant. PZL Mielec provides the rear and middle of the fuselage, the cockpit design, the cockpit side panel, and the front equipment for all F-16 fighters produced. Following their production, Mielec components will be transferred to the Lockheed Martin finish line in Greenville, South Carolina. https://bulgarianmilitary.com/2022/06/18/jordan-buys-8-f-16-block-70-fighters-but-the-us-stopped-production/

By Boyko Nikolovon Jun 21, 2022 BERLIN ($1=0.95 Euros) — The German government has officially published a list of weapons systems, weapons, ammunition, and consumables that it has provided to Ukraine so far and a list of what is being implemented or is being prepared. Officially, Berlin has provided Ukraine with 3,000 Panzerfaust 3 cartridges plus 900 grips, 14,900 anti-tank mines, 500 STINGER anti-aircraft missiles, 2,700 STRELA flying fists, 16 million rounds of ammunition handgun, 50 bunker fists, 100 MG 3 machine guns with 500 spare barrels and bolts, 100,000 hand grenades, 5,300 explosive charges, 100,000 meters of detonating cord and 100,000 detonators 350,000 detonators, 23,000 combat helmets, 15 pallets of clothing 178 motor vehicles, 100 tents, 6 pallets of material for explosive ordnance disposal, 125 binoculars, 1,200 hospital beds, 18 pallets of medical supplies, 60 surgical lights, Protective clothing, operating masks, 10,000 sleeping bags, 600 shooting glasses, 1 radio frequency system, 3,000 field telephones with 5,000 reels of field cord and carrying equipment, 1 field hospital [joint project with Estonia], 353 night vision goggles, 4 electronic anti-drone devices, 165 binoculars, Medical supplies [including rucksacks, first- aid kits], 38 Laser removal knife, Fuel diesel and petrol [current delivery], 10 tons of AdBlue, 500 pieces of wound dressings to stop bleeding, 500 pieces of food rations, MiG-29 spare parts and 30 armored vehicles. In the second list, the German government describes the weapons systems, weapons, and consumables that are being prepared for dispatch or are already in the process of being dispatched. The list is also very long and includes tens of thousands of artillery shells, anti-tank missiles, nearly 6 million rounds of handgun ammunition, drones, radars, vehicles, and reconnaissance vehicles. It is noteworthy that Germany confirms the sending to Ukraine of three MARS multiple rocket launchers with ammunition [the German version of the American system M270 MLRS], seven self-propelled 155mm howitzers PzH 2000, and 30 mobile anti-aircraft 35mm systems Gepard SPAAG. BulgarianMilitary.com previously announced the dispatch of Cheetah and PzH 2000, but it is unclear whether the three multiple rocket launchers are part of the promised four in Washington or a separate initiative from Germany. In the link below there is more info about those weapon system. https://bulgarianmilitary.com/2022/06/21/germany-sends-to-ukraine-3-mars-mlrss-7-pzh-2000-sphs-30-gepards/

By Boyko Nikolovon Jun 21, 2022 PANAGYURISHTE ($1=1.85 Bulgarian Levas) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for missile systems from the West, describing the situation as follows: if Kyiv receives 60 or more missile systems, the Russian armed forces will be pressed and lose the ability to advance into Ukraine, if Kyiv receives 40 missile systems, the progress of the Russians will continue, but with more casualties than the current situation. If Ukraine gets 20 missile systems, the Russians will continue to have casualties, but they will make rapid progress. Himars MLRS Launch ATAKAM Missile Photo: Wikipedia President Joe Biden’s administration has decided to provide the Ukrainian armed forces with four HIMARS missile systems. They are part of a new $ 1 billion military aid package. However, there is a public opinion based on real facts that US support for weapons systems is declining, some say stopping. Four HIMARS systems will help Ukraine, but they’re not game-changing weapons in the eastern Ukraine war, where for 60 days the Ukrainian armed forces have faced Russian artillery in a ratio of 20 to 1. Ohio Senator and Republican member Rob Portman described Fighting in eastern Ukraine as “brutal fighting continues in Severodonetsk, where the Russians are making tremendous progress, and the Luhansk region could fall in weeks if the Ukrainians cannot get more artillery.” However, the United States does not intend to send long-range missiles to Ukraine. The apparent reason, again according to Portman, is a lack of trust. Portman believes that the administration of President Joe Biden fears that the Ukrainian armed forces will use this type of missile not only to defend their territory but also to attack Russian territory. If this happens, many experts predict that the conflict will go beyond the territory of Ukraine and even involve the United States directly in the conflict. The ongoing artillery war in eastern Ukraine is at stake – the likelihood of Donbas falling into Russian hands is huge. This will be strongly politically marked in Moscow as a victory and the aspirations of Russian President Vladimir Putin to reach the south, to Odessa will intensify, and the possibility of this happening as well. If that happens, some say its Transnistria’s turn in Moldova. The provision of long-range American missiles has its followers among Washington’s political circles. Some are strongly opposed and pulling out a nationalist card “we cannot support Ukraine forever“, others use this argument to defend the possible sending of such weapon systems to Kyiv. “The sooner Ukraine pushes the Russians out of Donbas, the sooner the war will end,” are the most common arguments for using long-range weapons. This is how Putin can be made to sit at the negotiating table, they say. President Joe Biden’s administration has decided to provide the Ukrainian armed forces with four HIMARS missile systems. They are part of a new $ 1 billion military aid package. However, there is a public opinion based on real facts that US support for weapons systems is declining, some say stopping. Four HIMARS systems will help Ukraine, but they’re not game-changing weapons in the eastern Ukraine war, where for 60 days the Ukrainian armed forces have faced Russian artillery in a ratio of 20 to 1. Ohio Senator and Republican member Rob Portman described Fighting in eastern Ukraine as “brutal fighting continues in Severodonetsk, where the Russians are making tremendous progress, and the Luhansk region could fall in weeks if the Ukrainians cannot get more artillery.” However, the United States does not intend to send long-range missiles to Ukraine. The apparent reason, again according to Portman, is a lack of trust. Portman believes that the administration of President Joe Biden fears that the Ukrainian armed forces will use this type of missile not only to defend their territory but also to attack Russian territory. If this happens, many experts predict that the conflict will go beyond the territory of Ukraine and even involve the United States directly in the conflict. The ongoing artillery war in eastern Ukraine is at stake – the likelihood of Donbas falling into Russian hands is huge. This will be strongly politically marked in Moscow as a victory and the aspirations of Russian President Vladimir Putin to reach the south, to Odessa will intensify, and the possibility of this happening as well. If that happens, some say its Transnistria’s turn in Moldova. The provision of long-range American missiles has its followers among Washington’s political circles. Some are strongly opposed and pulling out a nationalist card “we cannot support Ukraine forever“, others use this argument to defend the possible sending of such weapon systems to Kyiv. “The sooner Ukraine pushes the Russians out of Donbas, the sooner the war will end,” are the most common arguments for using long-range weapons. This is how Putin can be made to sit at the negotiating table, they say. At least that’s what the United States thinks. https://bulgarianmilitary.com/2022/06/21/ukraine-to-strike-russia-if-it-gets-us-longest-range-rockets/

16/02/2022 By EDR On-Line editorial staff With over 430 vehicles in service with the Singaporean Armed Forces the 8×8 developed and produced by ST Engineering is close to get a rejuvenation care that will involve the automotive as well as the vetronic architecture as well as its role and concept of operation. At the 2022 edition of the Singapore Airshow, the national defence giant exhibited a mock-up of its 8×8 armored vehicle which has lost its “fighting” attribute in the strict sense, becoming a mothership vehicle, which exploits unmanned ground and air vehicles to gather information, carry out surveillance missions, and eventually engage the opponent. First of all ST Engineering is looking at a hybrid propulsion version of its 8×8 IFV, that will adopt a serial hybrid configuration, in which the internal combustion engine will generate electric power to reload the on-board battery pack and to power the electric machine that, in turn, will give motion to the wheels. According to information provided at the show, the overall power will be in excess of 1,000 hp (the 25 tonnes Terrex 1 was fitted with a Caterpillar C9 providing 450 hp, the following version, the Terrex 2, with a 30 tonnes combat weight being fitted with a C12 providing 700 hp). Two options are being examined; in the axle drive solution electric motors power the axles, while in the in-hub configuration each wheel has a built-in electric motor. This latter solution allows a much greater flexibility, as no mechanical link is needed, electric cables ensuring power distribution and electronic control of each wheel, their intrinsic flexibility freeing the designer from the constraints given by mechanical links. This also allows the adoption of more effective solutions in terms of protection, especially when adopting the in-hub configuration. To read the whole article please check the low: https://www.edrmagazine.eu/st-engineering-the-terrex-looks-forward

Defense News May 2022 Global Security army industry Posted On Thursday, 05 May 2022 12:17 According to Byun Duk-kun from Yonhap news agency, the United States may discuss deploying additional THAAD missile air defense units to South Korea if requested by Seoul's incoming administration, a state department spokesperson said Wednesday, May 4. The remarks come after North Korea launched a ballistic missile on the same day (Seoul time), marking its 14th known show of force this year. THAAD launchers enter the US military base in Seongju, in 2017 (Picture source: YonHap) "Every country has the inherent right to self-defense," Ned Price said when asked if the U.S. might consider deploying additional THAAD units to South Korea if requested by South Korea's new Yoon Suk-yeol administration. "As I said before, our commitment to the defense of our treaty allies, the ROK, in this case, is ironclad. These will be discussions that we will have as allies regarding how best we can see to it that our commitment to the defense of the ROK remains ironclad," the spokesperson added, referring to South Korea by its official name, the Republic of Korea. South Korea currently hosts a U.S. THAAD unit, but the 2016 decision to host the unit received severe economic repercussions from China. The U.S.State Department spokesperson argued China too has recognized the danger of North Korea's missile launches, adding, "each of these provocations has been a violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions". On June 2, 2020, Army Recognition published that U.S. forces in Korea and the South Korean army had put in place new interceptor missiles onto Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) base in Seongju, North GyeongsangProvince, on Friday, May 29. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), formerly Theater High Altitude Area Defense, is an American anti-ballistic missile defense system designed to shoot down short-, medium-, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles in their terminal phase (descent or reentry) by intercepting with a hit-to-kill approach. THAAD was developed after the experience of Iraq's Scud missile attacks during the Gulf War in 1991. The THAAD interceptor carries no warhead but relies on the kinetic energy of the impact to destroy the incoming missile. A kinetic energy hit minimizes the risk of exploding conventional-warhead ballistic missiles, and the warhead of nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles will not detonate upon a kinetic energy hit. Originally a U.S. Army program, THAAD has come under the umbrella of the Missile Defense Agency. The U.S. Navy has a similar program, the sea-based Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System, which also has a land component ("Aegis ashore"). THAAD was originally scheduled for deployment in 2012, but its initial deployment took place in May 2008.THAAD has been deployed in Guam, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Romania, and South Korea. https://www.armyrecognition.com/defense_news_may_2022_global_security_army_industry/us_to_possibly_deploy_more_thaad_air_defense_systems_in_south_korea.html

Posted On Friday, 20 May 2022 15:32 MOSCOW, May 20. /TASS-DEFENSE/. The Russian army is to be armed with strategic drones in the near future, Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said on Friday, May 20: “Strategic UAVs are expected to be supplied [to the Russian armed forces] in the near future. They will ease the pressure on flight personnel and considerably reduce the costs of reconnaissance and strike operations as well as the consumption of ammunition and the aircraft wear rate,” he said. Okhotnik S-70 (Picture source: Russian MoD) Shoigu stressed that Russia’s army continued to be supplied with advanced tactical drones: “UAVs are being widely used by the Russian army to cope with a wide range of tasks. Over the past ten years the intensity of their flights has upped 7 times, and the annual flight time 23 times,” Shoigu said. Since 2015 drones have monitored the situation in the whole territory of Syria round the clock. From the moment the Syrian operation began more than 58,000 sorties have been carried out. The total flight time exceeded 377,000 hours. “In the special military operation in Ukraine drones conduct air reconnaissance and carry out pinpoint strikes against enemy facilities in densely populated urban areas without harming civilian infrastructures or causing civilian casualties. Since the day the operation started the drones’ total flight time has exceeded 25,000 hours. The data is transmitted from the drones online, enabling the troops to promptly react to changes in the situation and operate most effectively,” Shoigu said. The Defense Ministry’s board meeting was to consider a draft program for arming the Aerospace Force and the Navy with medium and long-range drones by 2030. Mikoyan Skat-Stealth UCAV https://www.airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2022-news-aviation-aerospace/may/8398-russian-army-to-have-strategic-drones-by-2030.html MOSCOW ($1=53.91 Russian Rubles) — Sergei Chemezov, chief executive of Russia’s state-owned Rostech, said that after he meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin, mass production of the Okhotnik [Hunter] drone would begin by 2023. Chemezov said in a statement: “We will take the Okhotnik system, whose first flight tests they started in 2021, from the mass production line in 2023 and we will deliver it to the Ministry of Defense,” Chemezov was quoted as saying in Russian media. Chemezov also said that Okhotnik’s standard flat-nozzle propulsion system, low radar visibility [stealth], and the ground management system specifically designed for the Hunter set the UCAV apart from its competitors. S-70 Okhotnik unmanned combat aerial vehicle Developed by Sukhoi’s design bureau, the S-70 Okhotnik features radar reduction technology and a flying wing design. According to open sources, the UAV, which has a takeoff weight of 20 tons, can reach a speed of about 1000 km / h. Okhotnik made his first flight on August 3, 2019. The flight took more than 20 minutes under the control of an operator. On September 27, 2019, Okhotnik flew with the fifth generation Su-57 fighter. The UAV maneuvered in the air in automatic mode at an altitude of about 1600 meters and its flight took more than 30 minutes. Mass deliveries of drones Okhotnik of Russian troops are scheduled to begin in 2024. On August 9, 2020, the President of the United Aircraft Corporation [UAC] Yuri Slyusar announced to Russian President Vladimir Putin that supplies for mass production will begin in 2024. Expectations Russia has high expectations for the S-70 Okhotnik. “The roll-out of the UAV marks the completion of the assembly of the product as a whole, equipping it with all the necessary onboard equipment by the requirements for the aircraft, and the transition to complex ground tests to prepare for the first flight,” Russian Deputy Minister of Defense Alexei Krivoruchko said. According to Thomas Newdick and Tyler Rogoway, authors of an article in The Drive, the second prototype shows a leap of Russian engineers and technologists in the development of stealth technology. However, they remind that this is just a prototype and tests are yet to be performed both on the ground for the functioning of its systems and in the air. Thomas Newdick and Tyler Rogoway pay particular attention to the upcoming aerial tests, as they believe the data collected from these experiments will give a clearer picture of the progress of the Russians, or whether it has been achieved at all. Photo credit: YouTube “Technologies tested on the prototypes will be used in the creation of other promising aircraft systems – both manned and unmanned,” Krivoruchko added, perhaps hinting that the design and testing of the Okhotnik could inform very much-anticipated new strategic bomber, or PAK DA, which is similarly expected to be a flying-wing design. That is if it ever actually materializes. Thomas Newdick and Tyler Rogoway say in their article that Russia has already gained experience and, according to them, the Russians expect the S-70 to have a very long flight time in the air and deliver a significant amount of combat cargo. Okhotnik UCAV is now demonstratively on the way towards becoming a true low-observable combat aircraft. As such, it will likely break entirely new ground for the Russian military once it finally enters service, and it will very likely be offered for export, potentially bringing these advanced capabilities to other countries, too. https://bulgarianmilitary.com/2022/06/22/russia-begins-stealth-s-70-okhotnik-production-with-flat-jet-nozzle/

News Maritime Security PRESS RELEASES By Colton Jones-May 12, 2022 Kaman Corporation is offering its massive autonomous cargo drone to the U.S. Marine Corps. The company has demonstrated at the Modern Day Marine 2022 its newest addition to its family of purpose-built, autonomous unmanned systems designed to be the new standard for expeditionary logistics, called the KARGO UAV. “With a payload of up to 800lbs and a maximum range of 500nm, it is best in class in the medium-lift UAV category,” the Kaman said in a Facebook post Thursday. As noted by the company, designed to provide cost-effective cargo hauling in its conformal pod or external sling load configuration, the KARGO UAV will self-deploy with no payload up to 523 nautical miles with a max lifting capacity of 800lbs. This size and class drone also has multiple commercial applications and is part of a growth strategy involving a family of purpose-built KARGO vehicles for multiple and repeatable missions. Built with the U.S. Armed Forces future operating concepts in mind, the KARGO UAV offers a rugged design for easy transport and deployment. The system’s compact form-factor fits in a standard shipping container and is designed to be unloaded and operated by as few as two people. https://defence-blog.com/kaman-offers-huge-cargo-drone-to-us-marine-corps/

27/05/2022-By Paolo Valpolini On May 26 the Slovak Ministry of Defence issued a document entitled “Feasibility Study for the Procurement of Tracked Combat Armoured Vehicles and Tracked Combat Vehicles” which draws the conclusions of the lengthy testing process that saw the competing vehicles performing in the country. The document, in Slovak language, lacks some of the information that was considered classified, but gives a general overview of the results obtained during field trials. The five main evaluation points were interoperability, mobility, firepower, mine resistance and ballistic resistance. Combat (PBOV in Slovak acronym) and support (POB) vehicles will replace in Slovak service BVP-1 and BVP-2 infantry fighting vehicles, BPsV Svatava combat reconnaissance vehicles, OT-90 armoured personnel carriers, SVO self-propelled mine-clearing vehicle and MU-90 mine-laying vehicle, all currently deployed by mechanized formations. Four competitors took part in the bid, 1. BAE Systems Hägglunds-CV90 (both CV9030 Mk IV and CV9035 Mk IV), 2. General Dynamics European Land Systems Santa Bárbara Sistemas-ASCOD, 3. Rheinmetall Lynx KF41. 4. Polish Armaments Group – PGZ Borsuk. The total Phase 1 requirement is for 152 vehicles of which 110 in the combat version, 15 command posts, 9 reconnaissance, 3 anti-material rifles team, 9 grenade launcher team, 3 recovery and 3 maintenance and repair. As for Phase 2, this should include 5 combat, 10 recovery, 9 maintenance and repair, 9 engineer mine-clearing, 9 engineer mine-laying, 9 engineer support and 20 120 mm self-propelled mortars, for a total of 71 vehicles, the grand total thus being 223. The programme timing sees the delivery of the first combat vehicles in 2023-24 for first trials, followed in the 2025-28 period by the delivery of the other versions for testing and delivery to the units. This according to the released document the preferred bidder is BAE Systems Hägglunds CV90, the offer being supported by the Swedish Defence Material Administration (FMV). This recommendation is now passed over to the Slovak Government, which decision is expected in June, which will then lead to final negotiations before the contract signature. In the following lines a summary of the most interesting parts of the Slovak MoD document. The evaluation took into consideration four main areas, technical, logistical, financial and the involvement of Slovak industry, the assessment being given in percent over target requirements. For the technical evaluation mobility, maneuverability, firepower, protection and training assets were the main criteria. None of the vehicles fulfilled completely the requirements; the result table of the technical evaluation published in the document shows the following: Vehicle Rating CV90 MkIV : 292 Lynx KF41: 257 ASCOD: 279 Borsuk: 30 First came the CV90, although it didn’t meet two requirements, maximum cannon elevation and vertical obstacle crossing. The fact that the Mk IV is based on the wide experience acquired on previous CV90 versions, its combat experience, and the wide community that forms its Users’ Club was of course considered as a plus. Comments on the Lynx positively underline the modularity aspect and the considerable internal space, while on the minus side we find overall dimensions and the fact that the vehicle is not in use in the country of origin, although Rheinmetall was presenting its tracked vehicle through Rheinmetall Hungary Zrt, Hungary being the launch customer for the Lynx KF41 For a full information and comments https://www.edrmagazine.eu/the-slovak-mod-selects-the-cv90-as-preferred-bidder-for-its-ifv-programme

The live-fire exercise demonstrated that HELWS can be paired with the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS). The High-Energy Laser Weapon System, mounted on a tactical military vehicle, demonstrates interoperability with the NASAMS air defense system at White-Sands Missile-Range. Credit: ©2022 Raytheon Technologies Corporation. Raytheon Intelligence & Space (RI&S) has conducted a capability demonstration of its High Energy Laser Weapon System (HELWS) at White Sands, in the US. The live-fire exercise demonstrated that HELWS can be paired with the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) to destroy a swarm of drone targets. The laser weapon system obtained cues from the NASAMS Fire Distribution Center, and then leveraged an array of sensors to track, identify, and engage drones at tactically relevant distances. The HELWS destroyed nine Group one and Group two drones over the White-Sands Missile-Range. Multiple US military and civilian agencies, as well as defence ministry officials of allied countries, attended the demonstration. RI&S Electronic Warfare Systems president Annabel Flores said: “Drone threats are particularly dangerous in any environment, from soccer stadiums to battlefields, because they’re not easy to spot and take down. “We’re showing the world that our defensive laser weapons can plug into existing air defenses to find and drop drones in the blink of an eye.” Jointly developed by Raytheon Missiles & Defense, and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, the NASAMS medium-range air defence solution includes the Sentinel radar, Fire Distribution Center, and a suite of effectors. Raytheon expects that the addition of NASAMS to the list of systems that HELWS already uses will enable the company to offer an air defence system that can protect against uncrewed aircraft threats. According to a company statement, RI&S’ laser weapon systems are manufactured in Texas, and can work on land, in the air, and at sea. RI&S is a Raytheon Technologies business. It develops advanced sensors, cyber services, and software solutions. Last year, RI&S secured a contract for the mobile sensor operations and maintenance services of the Cobra King Radar system. https://www.army-technology.com/news/ris-helws-destroy-drones/

News Aviation-By Colton Jones- May 10, 2022 Photo by Ministry of Defense of North Macedonia The U.S. Air Force has announced that ten Maryland Air National Guard A-10C Thunderbolt II, better known as Warthogs, attack aircraft assigned to the 104th Fighter Squadron arrived in Iceland, May 5, 2022. According to a press release from U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa, four Warthogs transited to Norway, on May 6, while the other six flew into North Macedonia on May 7 to support exercise operations. In addition to flying from Norway and North Macedonia, the A-10 aircraft are scheduled to deploy to forward operating locations in North Macedonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Poland to execute their Agile Combat Employment capabilities. The A-10 is the U.S. Air Forces primary low-altitude close air support aircraft and is the first Air Force aircraft designed specifically for close air support to ground forces. These capabilities provide essential support to the joint force land component and afford the U.S. military flexibility in projecting power in highly contested regions. Approximately 9,000 service members from 17 Allied and partner nations will participate in the exercise, including approximately 2,700 U.S. Soldiers and Airmen. https://defence-blog.com/us-air-force-deployed-a-10-warthogs-to-europe/