Singapore Airshow 2026: ST Engineering’s Terrex s5 highlights hybrid power’s role in future warfare
Hybrid-electric drive technology may address the growing energy demands of land warfare in future.
Aerojet Rocketdyne has carried out a series of subscale propulsion-system test firings for the DARPA Operational Fires (OpFires) programme.
Under OpFires, DARPA is working to develop a ground-launched hypersonic missile for tactical use. The programme is developing a two-stage missile capable of engaging high-value, time-sensitive targets from stand-off range in contested environments.
The effort to date has advanced the technology for an upper stage featuring a tunable propulsion system, and the preliminary design review is now complete.
Aerojet Rocketdyne was awarded a $4.6 million Phase 1 contract in 2018 to design propulsion concepts and technologies for OpFires. The contract included an $8.8 million option for Phase 2 of the programme, which is expected to culminate in late 2020 with multiple test firings.
Hybrid-electric drive technology may address the growing energy demands of land warfare in future.
The Common Armoured Vehicle System is continuing to rack up orders as the British Army looks likely to become an operator of the vehicle, while Italy and Ireland are also contenders.
As the US Department of Defense looks to counter the growing threat of uncrewed aerial systems to improve homeland security, the DroneHunter acquisition could point to future commercial innovation.
The selection of Hanwha’s K239 Chunmoo long-range precision fires system, with a contract expected to be signed on 30 January, makes Norway the second European country to choose the system. It is expected an operational system will be in service within four years.
This year has begun with main battle tanks taking the lead while orders for large logistics and support vehicles continued from last year. Additionally, two of the British Army’s most significant contracted vehicle programmes, Ajax reconnaissance vehicle and Challenger 3 tank, continued to make news in January.
Canada is improving its Leopard main battle tank fleet but before this is fully completed, it is expected to begin looking for new vehicles.