The National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System – pictured above firing an AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile at Woomera Test Range in South Australia in mid-November – provides air defence against a variety of aerial threats, including UAV, missile, helicopter, and aircraft attacks within 40–50 km. (Commonwealth of Australia)  The Australian Army has test-fired the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) at Woomera Test Range in South Australia, the Australian Department of Defence (DoD) said in a press rel...

FFG is working on the Boxer RRV variant. (FFG )  Lieutenant Colonel Karlheinz Boehnke, Multi-Role Armoured Vehicle (MRAV) Boxer representative in the German Army Concept and Capabilities Development Centre, presented a Boxer jamming variant and an update on other planned versions on the second day of SAE Media Group's Future Armoured Vehicles Survivability (FAVS) 2023 conference held in London from 13 to 15 November.  The Boxer Knifefish jamming variant would exist in two versions – ultra-high frequency (UHF)/very high frequency (VHF...

Lockheed Martin is under contract to continue PrSM development for the army. (US Army)  The US Army's Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) completed its shortest ever trip during a production qualification test on 13 November, according to a service announcement on 16 November.  Fired from an M142 High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), the missile demonstrated “successful target engagements” at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, according to the army release. The test announcement comes as PrSM is expected to reach early operational c...

The Royal Swedish Navy's Visby-class corvettes are to be fitted with the Sea Ceptor local area anti-air missile system. Space for a vertical launcher installation for CAMM missiles already exists in the weapon deck area beneath the main deck hatch. (MBDA)  Sweden is moving ahead with plans to retrofit MBDA's Sea Ceptor local area anti-air missile system to its five Visby-class corvettes as part of the mid-life upgrade (MLU) for the class.  The country's Defence Materiel Administration (Försvarets materielverk: FMV) on 16 November announced it...

Edge unveiled the MANSUP-ER, an extended-range version of Brazil's National Surface Anti-Ship Missile, at the Dubai Airshow. (Edge Group)  The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Armed Forces has signed a letter of intent covering a AED1.2 billion (USD327 million) order for anti-ship missiles, local defence group Edge announced during the Dubai Airshow on 15 November.  It said the order would cover the National Surface Anti-Ship Missile (MANSUP) that was originally developed for the Brazilian Navy and the extended-range MANSUP-ER version that was unve...

An F-35A fires an AIM-9X missile from the its external wing against an aerial drone target at Point Mugu Test Range, California. (US Air Force)  The US State Department has approved the potential sale of Raytheon AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II+ short-range infrared-guided air-to-air missiles (AAMs) to South Korea.  The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said on 15 November that the possible Foreign Military Sales (FMS) is worth USD52.1 million and features 42 AIM-9X Block II+ missiles, training missiles, guidance units, and associated...

An SM-6 Block I missile arcs skywards following launch from a US Navy DDG-51 guided-missile destroyer. South Korea plans to integrate the missile onto its second batch of KDX-III guided-missile destroyers. (US Navy)  The US State Department has approved the possible sale of SM-6 Block I air-defence missiles to South Korea, the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 14 November.  DSCA said Congress was informed of the possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) – estimated to cost USD650 million – earlier the same day.  The deal f...

An artist's portrayal of the Northrop Grumman LGM-35A Sentinel ICBM. (Northrop Grumman)  The Northrop Grumman LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) is “struggling” with “unknown unknowns”, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall told a crowd at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) on 13 November.  “Sentinel is one of the most large, complex programmes I've ever seen,” Kendall said. “It's probably the biggest thing in some ways that the air force has ever taken on, because it's a vast real estate development [and...

The UK plans to field a Land GBAD C-sUAS capability starting with 225 SMASH SLS anti-drone fire-control systems for small arms in December. (Technische Bureau H A Muller (TBM BV))  The UK plans to field a LandGround-Based Air Defence (GBAD) counter-small unmanned aircraft system (C-sUAS) capability starting in December, Squadron Leader Hugo Piers Morris, senior officer 2 (SO2) counter-small uncrewed air systems, Project 6 lead, joint effects, in the British Army Programmes Directorate, said on the first day of SAE Media Group's Future Armoure...

The RCCTO delivered four DE M-SHORAD prototypes to the 4th Battalion, 60th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, at Fort Sill, Kentucky, on 7 September. (US Army)  The US Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO) delivered four Directed Energy Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense (DE M-SHORAD) prototype systems mounted on Stryker 8×8 vehicles to the 4th Battalion, 60th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, at Fort Sill in Kentucky, on 7 September, Colonel Steven Gutierrez, RCCTO project manager for the system, said at the first day of...

The integration of the SkyStriker is being considered by Thailand to augment the munitions options on the D11A, pictured above at the Defense & Security 2023 show in Bangkok. (Janes/Jon Grevatt)  Thailand's Defense Technology Institute (DTI) and Elbit Systems are exploring possibilities to expand their partnership to focus on the Israeli company's SkyStriker autonomous loitering munition.  Janes   understands that the DTI is interested in integrating the munition into Thailand's new D11A, a local version of Elbit Systems' multicalibre Pr...

A Spanish Air Force Eurofighter of Ala 14 at Albacete Air Base. In front of the aircraft are its primary weapon systems, including the AMRAAM missile. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)  Spain is to buy the extended-range Raytheon AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) for its fleet of Eurofighter (C.16 in national service) and Boeing EF-18 (C.15) Hornet combat aircraft, as well as for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) ground-based air-defence system.  The Council of Ministers authorised the conclusion of...

The Sky Scout-M combat UAV is being integrated with Edge Group's RASH-1M precision guided munition, which is seen under the UAV's wings on the far left and far right. (Janes/Jon Grevatt)  The United Arab Emirates' (UAE's) Edge Group and Thai defence firm RV Connex have announced a partnership to collaborate on “unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), loitering munitions, and precision-guided munitions (PGMs)”.  An Edge spokesperson told Janes on 11 November that the agreement, which was signed at the Defense & Security 2023 exhibition in Bangkok, wi...

An artist's impression of the UAE Edge Group Reach-M UCAV revealed at the Dubai Airshow 2023. (Edge Group)  The United Arab Emirates' (UAE's) Edge Group has showcased a range of new unmanned aircraft and effectors.  Revealed for the first time at the Dubai Airshow 2023, held from 13 to 17 November, the new product range includes fixed- and rotary-winged unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), as well as air-launched munitions and a jammer.  “The new … products and systems cover a wide range of missions, including tactical intelligence, surveillance...

The Israeli MoD released a file photo of an Arrow 3 interceptor being launched to illustrate the first operational use of the missile on 9 November. (Israeli Ministry of Defense)  Israel used a long-range Arrow 3 exoatmospheric ballistic missile interceptor operationally for the first time on 9 November, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israeli Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced later that day.  The Arrow 3 is one of two interceptors that can be launched by the Arrow Weapon System (AWS), the other being the Arrow 2 that is designed to...

While the US Army's hypersonic weapon programme is delayed, the service's Mid-Range Capability is on track for operational capability. (US Army)  It is predicted that the US Army will not be able to field its hypersonic weapon by the end of the calendar year as planned after a critical test was cancelled before launch.  Similar to the cancelled tests in September and March 2023, the “problem” was identified before the launch schedule to take place from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. Doug Bush, US Army assistant secretary for acq...

Saab FFV India will support the production of the Carl-Gustaf M4 recoilless rifles (pictured above) for the Indian Armed Forces. (ECDI)  The Indian government has approved 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) for Swedish defence company Saab to set up a new manufacturing facility in India, Mats Palmberg, chairman and managing director of Saab India, told Janes on 8 November.  Saab is the first company to gain 100% FDI approval from India. The country earlier permitted only 74% FDI in the defence sector through the automatic route for companie...

The Indian Air Force's (IAF's) Mig-29s have become important platforms for the air force due to their high-speed and ability to carry long-range weapons following upgrades from 2012. (Manjunath Kiran/AFP via Getty Images)  The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced that it will arm its Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 fleet with a long-range stand-off weapon (SoW).  In a newly issued Request for Information (RFI) for certified bomb racks capable of carrying a long-range weapon, the MoD said that it intends to complete integration of this weapo...

The Iron Dome air-defence system has been used by Israel to intercept rocket attacks in recent years. It has been used in the Israeli operations that started after the 7 October attack. (PA)  The two Iron Dome air-defence batteries owned by the US will go to Israel for at least 11 months, Doug Bush, US Army assistant secretary of acquisition, logistics, and technology, told reporters on 7 November.  The cost o the lease is “not free” but relatively cheap, Bush announced during a Pentagon briefing. Israel will have the option to buy the system...

President Joe Biden's administration wants to fund expansion of the 155 mm shell production with an emergency supplemental funding request for fiscal year 2024. (US Army)  The US goal to produce 100,000 rounds of 155 mm ammunition per month by calendar year 2025 cannot be met if lawmakers do not pass the fiscal year (FY) 2024 emergency supplemental funding, US Army assistant secretary for acquisition, logistics, and technology Doug Bush said on 7 November.  The legislation – proposed by President Joe Biden's administration – contains USD3.1 b...