Slovak company Konstrukta Defence unveiled a prototype of the 155 mm Diana tracked self-propelled howitzer (SPH) at Poland's MSPO defence exhibition, held in Kielce from 1 to 4 September.
Developed for an Indian artillery tender, the Diana SPH consists of a Slovakian autonomous turret armed with a
↧
MSPO 2015: Slovak-Polish Diana SPH debuts in Kielce
↧
MSPO 2015: Fabryka Broni unveils full MSBS-5.56 rifle family
Polish small arms manufacturer Fabryka Broni unveiled its entire Modular Small Arms System calibre 5.56 mm (MSBS-5.56) assault rifle family, currently on order for the Polish Armed Forces, for the first time at the MSPO defence exhibition in Kielce.
Equipped with a quick-release barrel, the
↧
↧
Morocco Abrams tank programme moves forward
Morocco is set to receive at least 50 M1A1 Abrams tanks, according to a contract announced by the US Department of Defense (DoD) on 28 August.
The USD17.2 million contract was awarded to General Dynamics Land Systems and covers the "removal and disposal of 50 M1A1 frontal turret armour
↧
Mexico participates in first amphibious exercise with US
The Mexican Navy is participating in its first amphibious landing exercise alongside US, Japanese, and New Zealand forces from 31 August to 9 September.
Exercise 'Dawn Blitz 2015' is a multinational exercise held off the California coast by the US Navy and US Marine Corps (USMC).
According to the
↧
MAKS 2015: KTRV showcases Kh-59MK2 aircraft guided missile upgrades
Among the most significant weapons to be exhibited at MAKS 2015 was an updated version of the Kh-59 stand-off land attack missile, called the Kh-59MK2.
Developed by the Raduga Design Bureau, part of Russia's Tactical Missiles Corporation (KTRV), the new variant - about to enter flight testing - has
↧
↧
China cosies up to South Korea as Kim skips 3 September parade
President Xi Jinping appears to be pursuing closer ties with Seoul to increase China's leverage over Pyongyang, if the reception given to South Korean President Park Geun-hye in Beijing is any guide.
Park Geun-hye attended the 3 September military parade in Tiananmen Square celebrating the 70th
↧
Brazilian Navy updates on KC-2 upgrade programme
The Brazilian Navy released further details of its ongoing KC-2 carrier-on-board delivery (COD) and aerial refuelling aircraft upgrade on 1 September, as its four ex-US Navy Grumman C-1A Trader aircraft are being converted to the KC-2 Turbo Trader configuration at the Elbit Systems of America M7
↧
Analysis: Saudi-led coalition opens new front in Yemen
ANALYSIS
The Saudi-led coalition trying to restore Yemen's internationally recognised government appears to have opened a third front by deploying a substantial force to Marib province.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has already deployed ground forces and Apache attack helicopters to southern
↧
DF-26 IRBM may have ASM variant, China reveals at 3 September parade
One of the surprising revelations from Chinese television announcers during the 3 September military parade marking the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War was that the newly revealed DF-26 intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) may have an anti-ship variant.
In addition to
↧
↧
China military parade all about signaling
Key points:
What this parade does is confirm Chinese internet-sourced imagery that has been the basis for most open source analysis in recent years.
The parade is all about signalling – both to international and domestic audiences of China’s strength and invulnerability.
The context
↧
Hill AFB receives first two F-35As
The first two Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II combat aircraft assigned to the 388th Fighter Wing were delivered to Hill Air Force Base (AFB) in Utah on 2 September, the US Air Force and the company announced.
The two aircraft are the first of 72 scheduled for delivery to the base, according to
↧
Venezuelan Marines receive Chinese tanks, IFVs
The Venezuelan Marines on 1 September received an initial batch of at least six Norinco VN16 light tanks, six VN18 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), a small number of 4x4 command-and-control vehicles, and at least 120 6x6 trucks.
The armoured vehicles were delivered by merchant ship Chang Hang Ji
↧
UK MoD awards Lockheed Martin first increment of IEP
Lockheed Martin UK announced on 1 September it has been chosen to provide the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) with a new integrated intelligence capability.
Known as the Imagery Exploitation Programme (IEP), the programme is aimed at consolidating the collection, sharing, and discovery of data and at
↧
↧
Saab signs technology collaboration agreements with Indonesia
Saab has signed collaborative agreements with Indonesian technology agencies as the Swedish defence and security group looks to enhance its footprint in the southeast Asian defence market.
The group confirmed to IHS Jane's on 3 September that it has recently signed co-operation accords with the
↧
Polish firm Lubawa signs deal with Ukroboronprom
Ukrainian state-owned defence manufacturer Ukroboronprom has entered into a further agreement with Polish personal protective equipment (PPE) supplier Lubawa SA, the company announced at a joint press conference on 3 September.
The deal is part of a process initiated in December 2014, through which
↧
Pentagon innovation report complete, no details yet
Key Points
The LRRDPP, the Pentagon's study designed to direct future research spending, is complete
The agency will not be releasing details about the study any time soon, despite prior suggestions something would be released
Pentagon officials are working to understand independent R&D
↧
Northrop Grumman offers to accelerate JSTARS delivery
Key Points
Northrop Grumman's JSTARS offering could be delivered to the USAF and enter service by 2021
The acceleration would avoid the 2022-28 time frame when the air force is scheduled to be procuring its three most costly recapitalisation efforts
Northrop Grumman's Joint Surveillance Target
↧
↧
MSPO 2015: Poland's Rosomak range extended
The Polish Armaments Group (PGZ) unveiled several new developments and variants of the Rosomak 8x8 family at the MSPO defence exhibition held in Kielce from 1-4 September.
These included the modernised Rosomak-M, the uprated Rosomak-XP, a Rosomak direct support vehicle armed with a 120 mm cannon,
↧
India, Australia agree closer ties, joint exercises
India and Australia have agreed to deepen bilateral defence ties through joint military exercises and increased maritime and counter-terrorism co-operation.
During a three-day India visit that ended on 4 September, Australian defence minister Kevin Andrews conceded that Australia had been wrong to
↧
IMI pitches wall-breaching system to foreign customers
Israel Military Industries (IMI) is now looking for foreign customers for its Explosive Breaching Frame (EBF), which uses charges to create man-sized holes in walls and heavy doors during urban combat.
Daniel Davidi, business development manager at IMI, said the EBF was used extensively by Israeli
↧