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 launch of an SM-3 Block IIA missile. (Photo: US MDA)
The White House issued an executive order on 27 January determining the Pentagon to accelerate the development and implementation of emerging solutions in its air and missile defence inventory.
The paper stated that the Secretary of Defence would submit a plan within 60 days for the implementation of next-generation missile capabilities able to defeat ballistic, hypersonic, advanced cruise missiles and other next-generation aerial attacks.
This plan will cover measures to speed up the deployment of the Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor layer, as well as the development of proliferated space-based interceptors capable of defeating missiles in the boost phase and
Already have an account? Log in
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.