Dedicated drone munitions could unlock modular mission potential
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 Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation (DALO) has awarded Galvion a $23.5 million contract to procure helmets for the national armed forces.
The company announced the seven-year agreement on 30 July. Under the deal, Galvion will deliver helmets and spare parts from Q4 2020.
The manufacturer will hand over the Batlskin Caiman Special Forces helmet system and the newly launched PDxT helmet, which introduces a new geometry to balance space, comfort and impact performance together with a low-profile shell.
Both models can be configured to meet a variety of impact standards and mission requirements.
This is the second time DALO has chosen Galvion as a supplier. In 2012, the business (under its former corporate name Revision Military) won a contract to deliver helmets and spare parts to Denmark.
Galvion’s protective head systems and soldier power management systems also equip defence forces from the US, Canada, UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, UAE, Israel, Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia.
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.
The French and German governments signed an agreement in June 2018 to cooperate on the development of a new main battle tank under the Main Ground Combat System programme but the effort has struggled. This new agreement may damage it further.