Why the NORAD inventory might be the US and Canada’s Achilles’ heel
Both the US and Canada operate Cold War-era capabilities which cannot defeat today’s and tomorrow’s threats.
Nexter has developed new uses for wearable technology and digital engineering. (Photo: Nexter)
French armoured vehicle manufacturer Nexter presented new and updated solutions at the Forum Entreprises Défense (FED) event at Satory near Paris on 13-14 October.
For example, an upgraded version of the Leclerc Diagnostic Simulator was developed in response to new features on the French main battle tank in the XLR upgrade.
‘Maintenance personnel are trained to search for selected faults according to multiple scenarios,’ Nexter noted in a press release.
The company also showcased its CTENIZA weapon system. Concealed inside a container, CTENIZA can accommodate multiple pieces of equipment such as a water cannon, an observation device or a remotely operated turret.
The system can be carried aboard a ship or transported by aircraft, and it can be networked to coordinate the protection of a forward operating base or vehicle convoy, Nexter added.
Other digital innovations on show at FED included the Nexter digital twin (JUNNE). Based on a digital copy of a physical system, JUNNE enables engineers to evaluate a system's capabilities, improve maintenance, facilitate the integration of new technologies ‘and strengthen collaboration with Nexter’s partners’, the company stated.
Both the US and Canada operate Cold War-era capabilities which cannot defeat today’s and tomorrow’s threats.
Air defence systems are continuing to appear top of countries’ shopping lists but broadly across different capabilities it is a sellers’ market, as demonstrated by backlogs and double-digit percentage point growth.
Mike Moran, Director of US Government Business at Amazon Project Kuiper Government Solutions, highlighted the evolution of space as a critical warfighting domain at the Defence in Space Conference (DISC) 2025, held this week in London.
In May this year, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the government plans to position Germany as “Europe's strongest conventional army”. A new blueprint outlines how this is going to occur through massive investment.
Two of the concrete projects outlined in the readiness report, the European Air Shield and Space Shield, will aim to be launched by Q2 2026.
The country has allocated RM21.70 billion for defence spending next year, with some major procurements set to be initiated across the country’s army, navy and air force.