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 Indian Army is attempting to boost its inadequate and obsolete air defences, including a recent order for two regiments of Akash missiles. (Photo: Gordon Arthur)
The Indian Army is upgrading its air defence capabilities by inducting a new indigenously developed Automated Air Defence Control and Reporting System to monitor and track incoming aerial threats.
Official sources said the Akashteer (Sky Arrow), which is being procured from state-owned Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for INR19.82 billion ($241.7 million), would, by early 2024, ‘comprehensively consolidate and integrate’ all army air defence radars, control centres and ground-based weapon systems.
Designed around army qualitative requirements finalised in 2019, the Akashteer will also network with the Indian Air Force’s existing Integrated Air Command and Control System to synergise situational awareness by
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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.