World Defense Show 2026: MARSS displays new Nation Shield air defence C2 system
Nation Shield is the latest iteration of the MARSS C2 system and is designed to provide C2 further forward along with more capable air defence.
The US Army is testing a new Multi-Function Aiming Light (MFAL) to help soldiers acquire and hit targets quickly and effectively, the army announced on 31 May.
The MFAL uses both infrared and visible aiming lasers to enable soldiers to engage targets during night and day.
The new MFAL is smaller, lighter and more powerful than previous versions. Its lithium batteries enable MFAL to run for about six-to-eight hours. The maximum range for the visible and IR beams on the modular handgun MFAL is 25m. The daytime range for the M4 MFAL is up to 200m in sunlight with the IR beam reaching 600m at night.
As the user doesn't need to look through a night vision scope with the MFAL, firing from the hip or any other position becomes possible because the beam aligns with the bore and points to the target.
The army is planning to purchase a number of MFALs for its M16 rifles and M4 carbines, which are considered a higher priority over the MFAL variant for the handgun.
Nation Shield is the latest iteration of the MARSS C2 system and is designed to provide C2 further forward along with more capable air defence.
Vehicle procurement in the Middle East continues to target big-ticket main battle tanks, with lighter platform purchases also potentially on the horizon including tactical, infantry fighting and armoured personnel carrier vehicles.
Positioned between light 4x4s and heavier 8x8 platforms, the new vehicle, Vantrex, aims to combine high payload capacity with IFV-level firepower in an increasingly competitive segment.
The latest infantry fighting vehicle from Rosoboronexport draws on experience from the war in Ukraine, and is designed to be more lethal and more survivable than its predecessors.
The Rhino 4x4 protected vehicle is being manufactured for an undisclosed country, likely to be Singapore, while its Agil counter-UAS C2 system is in low-rate production.
Saudi Arabia’s investment in its land forces, notably in the area of air defence as recently as 30 January, is a sign of the challenges the Gulf State faces, particularly the threat from Houthi rebels in Yemen.