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Hybrid-electric drive technology may address the growing energy demands of land warfare in future.
Rheinmetall has been contracted to deliver 9,640 VarioRay LLM (laser light modules) to the Swiss Army between May 2020 and Q4 2022.
The contract also covers the provision of accessories, spare parts and training services.
In Switzerland the device is known as LLM19. It is used on assault rifles and can discover, identify and mark targets. It weights approximately 240g. Night vision and thermal imaging modes are also available with the VarioRay LLM.
Although no set value for the contract has been made public, it is reported to be in the low double- digit million euro range.
The VarioRay LLM is also in service with soldiers from the British and German armies.
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.