US Army seeks industry support to prepare acquisitions of Group 4+ UAVs
The US Army is keen to hear about vendor designs, strategies and potential hardware and software solutions to inform requirements for procurement efforts.
Minimi 5.56 machine gun (photo – FN Herstal)
The Czech MoD has announced on 21 December the acquisition of 949 Minimi machine guns. The CZK 1.12 billion ($ 50.73 million) contract with the Czech company CB Servis Centrum sro comprises 7.62 x 51 mm and 5.56 x 45 mm weapons.
The agreement also includes sights, armour kits, cases and packaging. The deliveries are scheduled to take place from 2022 to 2025.
The procurement is part of the Czech effort to increase the mobility and lethality of its ground troops as well as to enhance the interoperability with other NATO members and allies.
In 2020, the country purchased around 39,000 small arms for its armed forces. The CZK2.35 billion ($92.5 million) deal with the national company Česká zbrojovka Uherský Brod (ČZUB) included 16,000 assault rifles, 21,000 pistols and 1,600 grenade launchers .
The US Army is keen to hear about vendor designs, strategies and potential hardware and software solutions to inform requirements for procurement efforts.
Top attacks have proven effective against heavily armoured vehicles in Ukraine. A new family of uncrewed aerial system-delivered munitions is looking to press that advantage further.
The Israeli company hopes that producing its Sigma artillery system wholly in the US will help it win a key US Army contract, but it will be up against the popular CAESAR Mk II wheeled weapon and the K9 tracked.
Germany has ordered 84 RCH 155 self-propelled guns, as system incorporating Boxer 8×8 vehicles and the Artillery Gun Module, and 200 Puma Infantry Fighting Vehicles while the UK has committed to a single Early Capability Demonstrator RCH 155.
While integration of guided weapons on modern armoured vehicles usually takes the form of a podded launcher on the turret exterior, recent developments suggest the concept of firing missiles from a tank’s main gun could be seeing a revival.
The order is a further boost for the Common Armoured Vehicles System programme which has notched notable successes in the past 12 months. The first vehicle, made in Finland, will be delivered next year with local production expected to ramp up in 2027.