The radio frequency (RF) datalink that provides Roketsan's UMTAS (Uzun Menzilli Anti-Tank Füzesi) long-range antitank missile with its lock-on-after-launch (LOAL) capability was developed by Turkish company Aselsan. The RF VBB (RF Veri Bagi Birimi) is a two-way datalink and operates in S-band
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UMTAS anti-tank missile datalink operates in S-band
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NSWC upgrades SMAW shoulder-fired weapon
Engineers at the US Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Dahlgren are upgrading the General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products Shoulder-launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon (SMAW) with improvements that would increase readiness levels and make it easier to employ, the Naval Sea Systems Command
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UK considers small arms updates
The British Army is weighing up which of its small arms Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR) upgrades to take into core as operations wind down in Afghanistan, and what impact those weapons will have on the army's operational doctrine.
Speaking at the Defence IQ Infantry Weapons 2013 conference in
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RAE 2013: KBP adopts bullpup design, subsonic rounds for VKS rifle
Russia's KBP Instrument Design Bureau unveiled a new suppressed, compact, anti-materiel rifle at the Russian Arms Expo 2013 exhibition in Nizhny Tagil, Russia, in late September.
The VKS is a 12.7 mm weapon that has been designed with a very large integral suppressor, which, a company engineer told
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US-India Javelin joint venture proposed
The US Javelin anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) has been offered to India as a candidate for production through a joint venture between India's Bharat Dynamics and the US Raytheon and Lockheed Martin enterprise responsible for the Javelin. The proposal is thought to have been modelled on the BrahMos
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Second LRIP contract for Excalibur 1b
The US Army has awarded Raytheon a USD54 million contract for the procurement of the second batch of low-rate initial production (LRIP) Excalibur Ib 155 mm guided artillery projectiles. A further LRIP contract is expected in next 12 months.
Excalibur Ib is based on the earlier Excalibur Ia-1 and
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Lynx eyes precision marksmanship
Russia's JSC Tochpribor has developed a precision engagement system for rifles, which automatically provides a firing solution for the shooter.
The system is designated Lynx and is housed in a self-contained sighting unit that is mounted atop of the rifle in the position of a standard optical
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India prepares to lift Denel ban after NTW 20 probe goes nowhere
India is expected to soon lift a decade-old ban imposed in 2005 on Denel after failing to prove corruption charges against the South African state-owned aerospace and defence technology conglomerate.
On 30 September the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) closed its eight-year-long inquiry into
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Russian T-72 MBT gets enhanced protection
Two enhanced T-72 main battle tanks (MBTs) were shown for the first time during RAE 2013 in Nizhny Tagil, Russia.
The MBTs have been upgraded to enhance their survivability and developments have been made to meet the potential requirements of the export market, as the T-72 MBT has been built in
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Luna Long Spear uses guided 400 mm rocket
The first reported application for the EdePro 400 mm calibre R400 unguided rocket first revealed in 2012 is the Yugoimport Luna Long Spear multiple rocket launcher (MRL). This re-uses the 9P113 8x8 ZIL-135LM all-terrain truck from the original 9K52 Luna-M (NATO 'FROG-7') artillery rocket system, but
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More firepower offered for BMP-2 IFV
Russia's Kurganmashzavod Joint Stock Company has developed two firepower upgrades for the widely deployed BMP-2 Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV).
The first version includes the installation of a B07K2 gunner's sight that features double-plane head mirror stabilisation, a thermal imaging camera, and
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Russian Tigr tested with HITROLE - Light RWS
A Russian Military Industrial Company (MIC) Tigr MultiPurpose Vehicle (MPV) has been fitted with the Italian Oto Melara HITROLE - Light remote weapon station (RWS) and will undertake a series of combination-proving firing trials in Russia.
The standard production HITROLE - Light is normally armed
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Russia pushes airdrop anti-tank gun
The Volgograd Machine Building Joint Stock Company is hoping to export its unique 2S25 125 mm self-propelled anti-tank gun (SPATG) originally developed for Russian air assault units under a new sales push.
The 2S25 - also referred to as the SPRUT-SD - has the firepower of the Russian T-72, T-80,
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Poland extends licence for Hitfist-30P turret
Poland has extended its license to assemble, integrate, and manufacture the Oto Melara Hitfist-30P vehicle turret, after negotiations between WZM Siemianowice Slaskie, the Polish Ministry of Defence, and Oto Melara were successfully concluded.
WZM Siemianowice Slaskie is the manufacturer and
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NZ MoD assessing responses to Steyr replacement RfI
New Zealand's Ministry of Defence (MoD) is assessing responses to a request for information (RfI) on a possible replacement for the New Zealand Defence Force's (NZDF's) 13,000 Steyr 5.56 mm assault rifles.
The RfI, which closed on 4 October, says the 25-year-old Steyrs, manufactured in Australia by
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Denmark trials machine gun replacements
The Danish Defence forces (Forsvaret) have downselected two candidates to replace its ageing LMG m/62 7.62 mm squad support weapons.
The two competitors are the German Hecker & Koch HK121 I and the US Ordnance M60E6 machine gun (MG). LMG m/62 is Royal Danish Army term for the Rheinmetall MG3,
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Moscow spikes 'Golden Gun' deal
Russia's Federal Defence Contracts' Service has cancelled a planned order from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) for Austrian-made Glock pistols, following criticism that the contract was overpriced.
The order has become known in local media as the 'Golden Gun' deal, which was destined to equip
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Trophy tested on General Dynamics LAV III
General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) has completed field trials of a Light Armoured Vehicle III (LAV III) fitted with the Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Trophy active protection system (APS).
The Trophy Heavy Vehicle (HV) configuration was developed for main battle tanks (MBTs), but the LAV III
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Brazil adopts Minimi machine gun across land forces
The Brazilian Army has unveiled plans to equip all combat units with FN Herstal's 5.56 mm Minimi machine gun, replacing the 7.62 mm heavy automatic rifle (Fuzil Automático Pesado - FAP) that is becoming obsolete.
The aim is to standardise the use of military weaponry with the Brazilian Navy,
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Elbit, Thai industry collaborate on ATMOS 155 mm SP howitzer
Elbit Systems and Thailand's military industrial complex are collaborating on the production of the Israeli company's Autonomous Truck Mounted howitzer System (ATMOS) 155 mm self-propelled (SP) howitzer, it has emerged.
The co-operation programme has been under way since 2012, and represents a
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