Land Warfare
France moves forward with Furious schedule
France is ploughing ahead with its 2022 schedule for the Furious UGV development programme, with the DGA procurement agency awarding Safran a second-phase contract.
Land Warfare
Argentina modernises TAM MBT turret
The Argentine Army awarded domestic company IMPSA a contract to upgrade the turret of the Argentine Medium Tank (TAM), as part of the TAM 2C modernisation programme.
Land Warfare
Germany advances plans to join CAVS collaboration
Germany is progressing plans to join the Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS) programme alongside Estonia, Finland, Latvia and Sweden. The country intends to sign the CAVS official joining agreement by the end of this year.
Defence Notes
US military seeks ways to avoid shortage of microelectronics
The US Department of Defense has released its ‘Microelectronics Vision’ paper, addressing objectives and guidelines to minimise vulnerabilities and ensure long-term access. However, the DoD faces some obstacles in progressing with its plans.
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Land Warfare
Czechs hail Caesar with certain misgivings
21st September 2021
The Czech MoD intends to sign a contract imminently with Nexter for the supply of 52 units of the Caesar artillery system. It will replace the obsolete DANA howitzer which has a 70s design and is in service with the Army for over 40 years.
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Defence Notes
Brazilian defence industry sees exports reach all-time high
20th September 2021
Brazil exported military equipment and system worth $1.35 billion in the first eight months of 2021, and the South American country expects overseas sales to reach $2 billion by the end of the year.
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Land Warfare
Slovak government approves acquisition of new armoured vehicles
14th September 2021
New platforms are to replace the more than 40-year-old fleet of Russian BMP-family IFVs in Slovakia.
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Land Warfare
Israel orders more Micro-Tavors
13th September 2021
New assault rifles for the IDF are intended to be distributed to soldiers in upcoming recruitment rounds.
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Land Warfare
Czech MoD proceeds with IFV procurement
10th September 2021
Experts from the Czech MoD and army will analyse IFV offers from BAE Systems, GDELS and Rheinmetall Landsysteme.
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Defence Notes
Chinese donations to South America see economics trump politics
9th September 2021
China donates military equipment to South American countries in order to access new markets. Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, Uruguay and Peru were the main recipients of small arms, optronics, communication systems, field hospitals, vehicles and speedboats.
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Land Warfare
Sweden intends to join Finnish/Latvian armoured vehicle programme
6th September 2021
The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration confirmed the country foresee starting negotiations during the autumn to formalize an agreement on the government level and join the Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS) programme.
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Defence Notes
France dominates EDA R&T expenditure
6th September 2021
EDA Collective and National Defence Data shows that France is the member state that invested the most in individual R&D and R&T programmes in the last few years, for a total of €14.14 billion.
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Land Warfare
Brazilian Army receives the last batch of IA2 assault rifles
3rd September 2021
New rifles for the Brazilian Army will replace part of the FAL M962 inventory that has been in service with the army for over 50 years. The ground force has procured 5,308 units of IA2 under a deal with state-owned company Imbel.
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Land Warfare
Venezuelan Army fires upgraded Scorpion 90
24th March 2021
Last week, the Venezuelan Army released images of a firing demonstration involving an upgraded Scorpion 90, with 26 of these vehicles apparently already modernised.
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Land Warfare
IR cancels Warrior upgrade but moves forward with Challenger 3
23rd March 2021
The second part of the Integrated Review stated that the British Army would progress with the Ajax and Boxer procurement and the Challenger 2 upgrade. At the same time, the MoD terminated the Warrior upgrade programme.
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Land Warfare
Rheinmetall denies Challenger 2 upgrade contract speculation
19th March 2021
Rheinmetall has poured cold water on social media speculation about signing a £750 million ($1.4 billion) contract from the UK to upgrade Challenger 2 MBTs, saying instead that is still negotiating with the MoD. The future of the MBT Life Extension Programme will be defined by the second part of the Integrated Review.
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Defence Notes
NATO eyes 5G but proceeds with caution
19th March 2021
NATO is exploring the potential of 5G for fast and effective military communication through secure networks. However, the alliance lacks a specific policy and strategy for 5G, and a balance must be struck between the opportunities and threats that the technology presents.
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Land Warfare
Arquus seeks to apply more advanced technologies to vehicle range
18th March 2021
Arquus plans to improve the capabilities of its ground vehicles by prioritising enhanced survivability, robotics, digital technology and hybrid energy.
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Land Warfare
COVID-19 forces Lithuania to revisit Boxer/Vilkas
16th March 2021
The Lithuanian MND is seeking solutions in order to keep the Boxer/Vilkas programme on track. The Vice Minister of National Defence recently held a meeting with OCCAR, ARTEC and KMW to discuss potential solutions to overcome the economic effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
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Land Warfare
'Deplorable' AFV programmes leave British Army at risk from peer adversaries, Defence Committee warns
16th March 2021
Released just before the first part of the Integrated Review is unveiled on 16 March, the latest House of Commons Defence Committee report highlighted obsolescence in the British Army armoured vehicle fleet and warned that the service is at serious risk of being outmatched by its most challenging peer adversaries.
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Land Warfare
US Army places emphasis on transformational vehicle capabilities
12th March 2021
The US Army is intensifying efforts to add advanced capabilities to its next generation of combat vehicles. The army plans to embed the newest sensors and technologies into these platforms, to ensure survivability, mobility, lethality and volume of fire.
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Land Warfare
COVID-19 crisis reduced Arquus' exports by 50% in 2020
11th March 2021
Although the COVID-19 crisis reduced Arquus’ exports by 50% in 2020, the company managed to balance the books by increasing its services by 40%. Additionally, the French manufacturer plans to deliver around 150 Griffons and Jaguars to the French Army in 2021.
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Defence Notes
Czechs break new ground with export support agency
8th March 2021
The Czech Republic will be the first country in Central and Eastern Europe to operate an agency promoting national military exports at the government-to-government level.
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Land Warfare
CATV tender looms on the horizon
2nd March 2021
A tender under the Collaborative All-Terrain Vehicle (CATV) programme is expected to be released in 2021. Cross-border collaboration is intended to secure greater commonality at reduced costs, as well as deliver economies of scale in production.