The Lego Principle: Falcon Shield, RiwP and the growth of modularity in land defence
A Moog RIwP turret in its UK configuration. (Photo: Moog, Inc.)
Shephard spoke to Leonardo about its Falcon Shield system and Moog about its Reconfigurable Integrated weapons Platform (RIwP) at DVD 2024, and discovered the trend in land defence was towards modularity.
There was a time when every land vehicle, every weapon, every sensor was a thing unto itself, often requiring a different part of the same supply chain, or even an entirely different strand of supply altogether. That led to a situation in land defence where supply chains were diffuse and rarely well used, because the likelihood of needing certain bells or particular whistles was often not enough to justify the expenditure of buying them.
Increasingly, however, that time is disappearing. The rise of modularity lets defence units fit as many, or as few, elements of a system together as they
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Land Warfare
-
![Borsuk IFV programme marks turning point for Poland’s armoured modernisation]()
Borsuk IFV programme marks turning point for Poland’s armoured modernisation
The Borsuk vehicles are to replace the Soviet-designed BMP-1 as the Polish military’s main tracked Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV).
-
![US Army modernisation plans raise big concerns for lawmakers]()
US Army modernisation plans raise big concerns for lawmakers
The termination of programmes such as JLTV and RCV has been harshly criticised by members of the US Congress.
-
![The power of partnership: GDMS–UK deepens cooperation with the British Army]()
The power of partnership: GDMS–UK deepens cooperation with the British Army
In Conversation: Shephard's Gerrard Cowan talks to General Dynamics Mission Systems–United Kingdom’s Chris Burrows about how the company's UK TacCIS business is reshaping battlefield communications through sustained customer engagement, accelerated innovation and ecosystem collaboration.
-
![Sweden to purchase IRIS-T air defence systems for $930 million]()
Sweden to purchase IRIS-T air defence systems for $930 million
This recent purchase of the medium-range air defence system adds to the country’s ongoing efforts to ramp up its overall defence readiness and capabilities.
