Flavia Camargos Pereira

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.

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.

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.

Author

Flavia Camargos Pereira is a land reporter at Shephard Media. She joined the company in 2020, after obtaining a masters degree in International Journalism at Brunel University London. Prior to her masters degree, she earned a bachelors degree in Media Studies from Federal University of Juiz de Fora (Brazil). She is a former member of the Brazilian armed forces, where she spent around 10 years in service.

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.