Arquus and Milrem push their UGVs fitted with long-range missiles
Arquus displayed the Drailer uncrewed ground vehicle (UGV) integrating the Akeron LP long-range missile at the Techterre technology demonstrator event ahead of trials in September.
MK47 40mm Advanced Lightweight Grenade Launcher. (Photo: GD-OTS)
General Dynamics-OTS (GD-OTS) is to provide US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), SOF and ‘other warfighting commands’ with sustainment parts, spares, and associated sub-assemblies for the 40mm MK47 MOD0 advanced lightweight crew-served grenade launcher.
Work on the $7.8 million IDIQ contract from the Naval Surface Warfare Center will be completed by December 2023, the DoD announced on 13 July.
GD-OTS is systems integrator for the MK47 (which is also known as Striker 40).
The complete system comprises the weapon itself, an AN/PWG-1 Lightweight Video Sight and a family of programmable 40mm ammunition developed by Nammo. It can be fired dismounted from a tripod or installed on light tactical vehicles.
Shephard Defence Insight notes that the 94cm-long MK47 can fire any NATO-standard high-velocity 40mm round.
The grenade launcher has a barrel length of 610mm and can fire 250-300 rounds per minute.
Arquus displayed the Drailer uncrewed ground vehicle (UGV) integrating the Akeron LP long-range missile at the Techterre technology demonstrator event ahead of trials in September.
The Czech Republic ordered 52 CAmion Equipé d’un Système d’ARtillerie (CAESAR) self-propelled howitzers (SPHs) in 2021 and added another 10 a year later. A cancellation of the programme would impact both the army’s capabilities and local industry which is involved in the manufacture.
Demand for ammunition continues to increase with manufacturing capability growing to match. Sweden have turned to the two supply lines of Rheinmetall and Nammo as part of a Nordic effort to meet demand. The Polish Government has also announced a US$700 million investment to boost manufacture of munitions.
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The order is in addition to two systems ordered in 2023. It forms part of a family of systems which is becoming widely used and part of a growing demand for the capability, both in deliveries and requirements.
Lockheed Martin’s Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) is a next-generation surface-to-surface missile system and is a planned replanned replacement for MGM-140 Army Tactical Missiles System (ATACMS). It is to be fired from M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers.