Sentinel-class fast-response cutter USCGC   Clarence Sutphin Jr  interdicted missile, communications, and other military equipment in the Arabian Sea.  (US Navy)  A US Coast Guard (USCG) cutter recently seized advanced conventional weapons and other lethal aid originating in Iran and bound for Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen from a vessel in the Arabian Sea, US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported on 15 February.    Sentinel-class fast-response cutter USCGC   Clarence Sutphin Jr  (WPC 1147), assign...

A digital twin of the French Army's VBCI infantry fighting vehicle is being developed by KNDS and Arquus that will eventually become their key offering for the modernisation and maintenance of the army's vehicle fleets. (Nexter)  KNDS and Arquus will develop a digital twin demonstrator of the Véhicule Blindé de Combat d'Infanterie (VBCI) 8×8 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) in support of the French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) and Defence Innovation Agency.  The digital twin will be developed under the ‘Digitization of Maintenance' (...

The GM200 MM/C mobile radar in the compact antenna test range at Thales Nederland. (Janes/Nicholas Fiorenza)    Thales Nederland has tripled its radar production over the last few years,   Janes  learnt while attending the company's handover of the first Ground Master 200 Multi Mission/Compact (GM200 MM/C) radar to the Royal Netherlands Army (RNLA) in Hengelo, Eastern Netherlands, on 14 February.   The increase is in the production of both land-based and naval radars, and the GM200 MM/C is a case in point, with the Netherl...

A still from the video shows an Iraqi soldier setting up an AN/TPQ-49 radar. (Iraq MoD)  The Iraqi military now has the AN/TPQ-49 radar, it was revealed on 10 February when the Ministry of Defence (MoD) released a video showing Chief of Staff of the Iraqi Army Lieutenant General Abdul Amir Rashid Yarallah visiting the Artillery Branch Directorate.  The MoD said the chief attended the official opening of the first ‘astimkan' battalion of the post-2023 Iraqi Armed Forces and was briefed on the ‘astimkan' device, a word associated with target l...

The TPY-4 radar. (Lockheed Martin)  Lockheed Martin is positioning its TPY-4 ground-based long-range surveillance radar for the Republic of Singapore Air Force's (RSAF's) air-defence requirements.  Chandra Marshall, vice-president for radar and sensor systems at Lockheed Martin, confirmed the matter during a briefing for media representatives on 14 February. The briefing was held as a run-up to the Singapore Airshow, which will be held from 20 to 25 February.  The RSAF operates the FPS-117 long-range surveillance radar as part of a multilayer...

Russia is reportedly deploying Starlink terminals in contested regions in Ukraine, the GUR said. (Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)  The Russian Armed Forces is reportedly using the Starlink satellite communications system in Ukraine to establish internet connectivity, Ukraine's Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) confirmed on 11 February.  Russian forces, such as the 83rd Air Assault Brigade, which are fighting in the contested region of Donetsk, near Klishchiivka and Andriivka, are currently deploying the system at t...

A legacy AN/PRC-117G Adaptive Networking Wideband Waveform aboard an MV-22 Osprey at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona. (US Marine Corps)  The US Marine Corps (USMC) is exploring options for building in a mission module capability into the service's fleet of tactical radios, as a way to accelerate waveform integration as part of an ongoing massive tactical radio upgrade effort.  “What we are looking at is adapting to different waveforms through the process of using mission modules,” said Bill Drew, project officer for multichannel radio...

The Armed Forces of the Czech Republic has received all eight of its EL/M-2084 radars, with FOC expected by the end of 2024. (Janes/Patrick Allen)  The Czech Republic's EL/M-2084 Multi-Mission radars (MMRs) from Elta Systems will reach full operating capability (FOC) by the end of 2024, Janes learnt.  A spokesperson from the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic told Janes that all eight radars are now in the country after the final system was delivered in December 2023, with FOC expected before the end of the 2024.  In December 2019 the armed f...

JSC Vektor Serp-VS6 (left) and RM (right) at WDS 2024, which can be combined to create an integrated detect-and-effect C-UAS solution. (Janes/Akshara Parakala)  Russian manufacturer JSC Vektor has unveiled a new counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) at the World Defense Show (WDS) 2024 held in Riyadh from 4 to 8 February.    Known as Serp-VS6, the platform is a radio-electronic suppressor that provides full omnidirectional C-UAS protection in the tactical environment by disrupting the signals of rogue unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) a...

The Aegis Ashore Missile Defense Test Complex conducted a successful ballistic missile defence test. (US Army)  The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and US Navy (USN) successfully demonstrated that the Aegis Weapon System can track and discriminate a medium-range ballistic missile target with countermeasures during a complex target scene, the MDA confirmed on 8 February.  The MDA also confirmed the successful execution of Flight Test Other-23 (FTX-23) or Stellar Sisyphus, a two-part developmental test of sensor tracking and communications link ca...

A satellite imagery supplied by BlackSky to the Indonesian MoD. Through BlackSky's subscription-based services, the Indonesian MoD is guaranteed access and first-priority tasking capacity over their national and regional areas of interest. (BlackSky)  Virginia-based BlackSky Technology Inc has secured a contract to provide the services of its Gen-3 Earth observation satellites to the Indonesian Ministry of Defense (MoD).  Under the contract, BlackSky will also provide “ground station capabilities and flight operations support” to the MoD, the...

A Pentagon report recommends the US Navy replace its Air and Missile Defense Radar testing model. (Raytheon)  The US Navy (USN) should replace the testing model of its Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR), designated the AN/SPY-6(V)1, according to the Office of the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) FY 2023 Annual Report, released on 2 February.  The operational assessment (OA) being done on the AN/SPY-6(V)1 used for testing “was not intended to determine operational effectiveness and suitability of the delivered AMDR due to th...

Poland has requested a minimum of four aerostat systems to support the detection and monitoring of air and ground threats, including UAVs. The US currently deploys Tethered Aerostat Radar Systems (pictured) to support airborne border surveillance along the US Mexico border and select Caribbean areas. (US Air Force photo by GS-11 Deb H; USA) (US DoD)  The US State Department has approved a possible sale of Airspace and Surface Radar Reconnaissance (ASRR) aerostat systems to Poland on 7 February for an estimated USD1.2 billion.  According to an...

The precision approach radar that has been inaugurated at INS Utkrosh in India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands. (Andaman And Nicobar Command)  India's Andaman and Nicobar Command has improved its ability to recover fixed-wing aircraft, especially during times of inclement weather over the territory.  This capability has now been enhanced with the operationalisation of a precision approach radar at INS Utkrosh, a naval air station that is located within the Andaman and Nicobar Islands' capital known as Port Blair.  The precision approach radar a...

Tron Future Tech displays its C-UAS' new hard-kill component called T.Interceptor at the World Defense Show 2024 in Riyadh. (Janes/Akshara Parakala)    The Republic of China Army (RoCA) has deployed a modular counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) developed by Taiwan's Tron Future Tech, the company told  Janes  at the World Defense Show (WDS) 2024 held in Riyadh from 4 to 8 February.   The C-UAS, with a new hard-kill component named T.Interceptor, has been displayed at the show.    Tron Future Tech told   Jane...

Sweden plans to replace its in-service ARTHUR WLS, with the procurement process beginning in 2026. Pictured is the rear view of the ARTHUR weapon locating radar integrated on an M113F4 series tracked armoured platform. (Christopher F Foss)  The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) has issued a request for information (RFI) on 5 February for the replacement of its Saab ARTHUR (ARTtillery HUnting Radar) weapon locating system (WLS).    According to the RFI provided to  Janes  , the Swedish Armed Forces seeks a future WLS...

Aircraft carrier USS   Gerald R Ford  has reported success with launching and recovery systems, but a Pentagon report says more testing is needed.  (Janes/Michael Fabey)  US Navy (USN) aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford (CVN 78) has proven the effectiveness of its flight operations and other vital systems during recent deployments and testing, but some of these systems still present reliability issues, according to the Director, Operational Test & Evaluation (DOT&E) FY 2023 Annual Report released on 2 February....

An F-16 is flown by Alec ‘Bulldog' Spencer during a mission at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, in February 2019. (US Air Force/Tech Sgt John Raven)  Turkey will upgrade its fleet of F-16 fighter aircraft with Northrop Grumman's latest electronic warfare (EW) suite, with plans to integrate the system into future blocks of the venerable jet fighter, Janes has learnt.  Ankara's decision marks the first major Foreign Military Sales of the AN/ALQ-257 Integrated Viper Electronic Warfare Suite (IVEWS) for the company, said James Conroy, vice-presid...

A screengrab from the video shows the Kodiak 100 that has been modified into a surveillance aircraft for the FAN. (Forças Armadas Angolanas)  The Armed Forces of Angola (FAA) revealed on 1 February that it has acquired a Kodiak 100 utility aircraft that has been modified into a surveillance aircraft when it released a video to highlight the role of its female crew members.  Angola's National Air Force (FAN) already had one Kodiak 100 that was unveiled in May 2021, when the FAA's official magazine reported that the aircraft had been equipped...

Naval Group's XLUUV demonstrator, which completed sea trials in late 2023, will be a key component of the UCUV project. (Naval Group)  Naval Group has been awarded a contract by French defence procurement agency Directorate General of Armament (DGA) for the development of an unmanned combat underwater vehicle (UCUV) demonstrator.  Under a framework agreement announced by both parties on 29 January 2024 but formalised on 28 December 2023, Naval Group will design, produce, and test a 10 m-long UCUV prototype.  The agreement follows a nine-mont...