The Agni V – pictured above taking part in India's Republic Day parade in 2013 – is a nuclear-capable missile that can carry either a single warhead or multiple warheads over ranges up to 5,500 km. (Indian Ministry of Defence)  India's state-owned Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) test-fired the Agni V intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) equipped with multiple independently targeted re-entry vehicle (MIRV) technology for the first time on 11 March.  According to a press release by the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD...

The US Coast Guard's FY 2025 budget request includes funding for the HC-130J programme management. (Janes/Michael Fabey)  The US Coast Guard (USCG) fiscal year (FY) 2025 budget request of about USD13.8 billion represents a slight decrease from the USD13.9 billion FY 2024 amount, annualised to reflect the continuing resolution spending restrictions and the USD13.9 billion enacted for FY 2023, according to budget documents released on 11 March.  The FY 2025 request includes USD1.1 billion to recapitalise legacy surface assets and make capital i...

The US Navy's FY 2025 budget requests includes funding for unmanned underwater vehicles. (Boeing)  The proposed fiscal year (FY) 2025 US Navy (USN) budget includes USD172.2 million to develop enabling capabilities and critical technologies for unmanned surface vessels (USVs), including funding for medium, large, and long-range vehicles, according to budget documents.  The funding is intended for Medium Unmanned Surface Vessels (MUSVs), Large Unmanned Surface Vessels (LUSVs), and Long-Range Unmanned Surface Vessels (LRUSVs) including prototype...

Despite struggling to deliver enough Virginia-class submarines to meet naval commitments, the navy is cutting a previously proposed submarine in its FY 2025 budget. (Michael Fabey)  Submarine acquisition programmes included in the proposed US Navy (USN) fiscal year (FY) 2025 budget underscore the importance of subsea operations for the service, with the USN proposing to spend about USD16.9 billion for combined Virginia-class attack submarine (SSN) and Columbia-class strategic submarine (SSBN) work, according to budget documents released 11 Ma...

The US Navy's FY 2025 budget request seeks more funding for a Constellation-class frigate. (US Navy)  The proposed US Navy (USN) fiscal year (FY) 2025 budget requests funding to continue proposed programmes for guided-missile destroyers (DDGs) and guided-missile frigates (FFGs).  The FY 2025 request includes USD6.5 billion for two Flight III Arleigh Burke-class DDGs and enough money to cover full funding for another two of those ships, according to budget documents released on 11 March.  Included in the FY 2024 request is USD4.5 billion for t...

Improving the GMD system has been a top priority for MDA. However, the effort suffered a major setback after a new kill vehicle programme was terminated. That programme was replaced by the NGI. (MDA)  The US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is requesting approximately USD2.526 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2025 to improve its strategic missile defence system, known as the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD), including funding to develop a new Next Generation Interceptor (NGI).  The agency's budget documents were released on 11 March but, breaking...

India's Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft programme began in 2008 and is intended to produce aircraft for induction into the Indian Air Force by 2030. Data shows that the fifth-generation fighter aircraft requires about two decades of development before entering service. (Janes)  Development of India's Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) fifth-generation fighter aircraft programme is expected to accelerate in 2024 following New Delhi's approval of the design and prototype programme, according to a project official.    The official, a me...

The Standard Missile-3 Block IIA missile, pictured, is jointly developed by the US and Japan. MDA suggested the GPI joint development with Japan will be pursued in a construct similar to that used for the SM-3 missile. (US Army)  The US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has requested USD182 million in fiscal year (FY) 2025 “to continue development of Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI) capability to address hypersonic missile threats and continue maturation of critical technology elements”.  This is down from USD209 million requested in fiscal year FY 2...

The airborne SAR was displayed on the Iranian stand labelled as both the S-811 and the larger S-813. (Janes/Ajay Shankar Pandey)  Iran displayed a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) that it has developed for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) during the DIMDEX 2024 show held in Doha from 4 to 6 March.  The SAR has a monopulse flat-plate slotted-array antenna and was labelled as both the S-811 and S-813, with Iranian officials refusing to identify which one it was.  An Arabic-language brochure provided details of both types, saying they can provide...

The US Navy is seeking funds to buy another San Antonio-class transport dock in FY2025. (Michael Fabey)  The fiscal year (FY) 2025 US Navy (USN) budget request includes USD1.6 billion to buy one Flight II San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship (LPD), according to budget documents released 11 March.  Including that procurement, the five-year Future Years Defense Plan (FYDP) included in the FY 2025 request includes three LPDs, with another ship being slated for acquisition in FY 2027 and then another in FY 2029.  The FY 2025 also incl...

The US Navy and Army are jointly developing hypersonic technologies through the navy's Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) offensive hypersonic strike capability and the army's Long Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW). (US Navy)  President Joe Biden's budget request for fiscal year 2025, unveiled on 11 March, includes about USD744 million in procurement for the US Army's delayed long range hypersonic weapon (LRHW) missile system, more than four times the amount requested for procurement in fiscal year 2024.  After failing two flight tests in fisca...

The M-LIDS weapon system can be mounted on vehicles and is designed to target and disable or destroy hostile drones or other UAVs. Soldiers have trained and tested the technology in US Central Command's area of responsibility. (US Army)  As the war in Ukraine highlights the need for deep magazines and counter unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) capabilities, the US Army's latest budget request includes more funding for counter small-unmanned aerial systems (C-sUAS) and precision munitions.  A “continued emphasis” on counter small unmanned aerial...

The Haider MBT is Pakistan's variant of the Chinese VT4 MBT (pictured above from a demonstration at Airshow China 2018), which is an export-only third-generation MBT marketed by Norinco. (Janes/Kelvin Wong)  Pakistan's state-owned Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT) unveiled an “indigenously manufactured” Haider main battle tank (MBT) during a ‘rollout ceremony' on 6 March, Pakistan Armed Forces' Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) agency said in a press release on 7 March.  The HIT collaborated with China North Industries Group Corporation Limi...

An F-35 launches off the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) in 2016. The US Navy intends to purchase 13 F-35Cs in FY 2025. (US Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kris R. Lindstrom)  The US Navy (USN) has requested USD16.6 billion in its fiscal year (FY) 2025 presidential budget request, intended to purchase 75 aircraft or helicopters, down from USD17.3 billion in FY 2024.  The service intends to purchase 26 Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighters: 13 short-takeoff-vertical-landing B-models for the...

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, on 14 February, sending six satellites to orbit – two for the Missile Defense Agency and four for the Space Development Agency. (US Space Force )  The Pentagon's Space Development Agency (SDA) anticipates having a testing strategy in place by the end of 2024 to evaluate Link 16 connectivity across US airspace for satellite communications (satcom) in the agency's Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA).  Officials from SDA and...

The USAF intends to purchase 42 F-35s in FY2025, a lower number than FY 2024. An A-model aircraft is shown. (Lockheed Martin)  The US Air Force's (USAF's) fiscal year (FY) 2025 presidential budget request includes the acquisition of at least 90 aircraft and hundreds of missiles.  Aircraft lead the USAF procurement budget with 82 platforms listed in briefing materials, revealed on 11 March.  The procurement of Lockheed Martin F-35As leads with USD5.9 billion for 42 aircraft, down from the FY 2024 request of USD6.1 billion for 48 F-35s. The F-3...

South Korea defence budget, 2015–30. (Janes)  South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has announced a business plan for 2024 aimed at driving developments in military capability and boosting domestic defence innovation and exports.  DAPA said on 8 March that its ‘major business implementation plan for 2024' is a response to increased threats from North Korea and growing international defence industrial competition. The plan is supported by South Korea's 2024 new defence budget and its associated five-year funding plan....

The US Navy's FY2025 budget requests includes funding for carrier Enterprise, being built now at Newport News Shipbuilding. (Michael Fabey)    The US Navy (USN) is requesting about USD1.9 billion in its fiscal year (FY) 2025 budget request to continue incremental funding of Ford-class aircraft carriers   Enterprise  (CVN 80) and   Doris Miller  (CVN 81), roughly the same amount requested for similar needs in FY 2024, according to budget documents released on 11 March.   The FY2025 represents the eighth increment...

A THAAD interceptor is launched from the Reagan Test Site, Kwajalein Atoll in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, during Flight Test THAAD-23, August 30, 2019 (The Pentagon's FY 2025 budget request includes USD247 million for 12 THAAD interceptors.)    The US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has requested USD639.9    million for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) programme in fiscal year (FY) 2025.   This funding would procure 12 THAAD interceptors for USD247 million, according to Pentagon budget documents publis...

Polish Treasury and Armaments Agency ordered over 6,000 Carl-Gustaf M4 recoilless rifles from Saab on 4 March 2024. (Saab)  The Polish Ministry of National Defence (MND), Armaments Agency (AA), and Saab announced an order for more than 6,000 Carl-Gustaf M4 recoilless rifles on their websites on 4 March.    Saab valued the agreement between it and the Polish State Treasury and AA at SEK12.9 billion (USD1.26 billion), although the AA gave a higher value of over PLN6 billion (USD1.53 billion). A Saab spokesperson told   Janes  on...