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.
Spotter 60 scope. (Photo: PCO/Hensoldt)
The Polish MoD Armaments Agency has ordered NVG equipment, binoculars and thermal sights from domestic supplier PCO for approximately PLN232 million ($52.23 million), with deliveries to begin this year.
This is the latest contract from the Polish MoD for PCO to provide advanced passive night-vision devices, the Armaments Agency noted in a 24 June statement.
Specifically, the new contract involves about 2,000 MU-3ADM and MU-3AM NVGs plus ‘several hundred’ NPL-1M night vision binoculars, PL-1M BROM-M night vision binoculars and SCT Rubin thermal sights, the Armaments Agency added.
In another contract announced on 24 June, the Armaments Agency placed a PLN9.2 million order with Griffin Group for about 250 Spotter 60 scopes made by Hensoldt, the first of which will be delivered to the Polish Armed Forces before the end of 2022.
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.