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6 days ago | 
shephardmedia.com | Damian Kemp
Latvia is to receive its first ASCOD IFV in June next year, only 18 months after signing up to purchase 42 vehicles for €373 million (US$423 million) in January this year.
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1 week ago | 
shephardmedia.com | Damian Kemp
The Swedish Navy’s Visby-class corvettes are to be equipped with an anti-aircraft capability under a SEK1.6 billion (US$166 million) contract placed by the Swedish Defence Procurement Agency (FMV) with Saab.
The addition of the capability is part of a mid-life upgrade for the ships which are expected to remain in service until 2040.
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1 week ago | 
shephardmedia.com | Damian Kemp
The UK government is to establish a Cyber and Eletromagnetic Command (CEC) with a commitment to spend £1 billion (US$1.3 billion) in what has been described as a ‘Digital Targeting Web’ to spearhead battlefield engagements as part of its SDR.
It is believed the SDR may be released on 2 June but at this stage the UK MoD will only say that it is expected to be published “imminently”.
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1 week ago | 
shephardmedia.com | Damian Kemp
The Israel Ministry of Defense (MoD) has announced that it has deployed a prototype laser to intercept uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) and other aerial threats in Swords of Iron War, the country’s operations in Gaza and defence against airborne threats.
The developmental high-powered laser is the result of work by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, the MoD’s Directorate of Defense Research & Development (DDR&D) and the Israeli Air Force.
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1 week ago | 
shephardmedia.com | Damian Kemp
Hanwha Systems has been awarded a KRW54.7 billion (US$40 million) from South Korea’s Agency for Defense Development to work on the next generation MFR for L-SAM-II, described as a local version of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) or K-THAAD.
The key role for L-SAM-II is to intercept ballistic missiles at higher altitudes and longer ranges than the original L-SAM, which completed development at the end of 2024.
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1 week ago | 
shephardmedia.com | Damian Kemp
The Javelin ATGM has seen more than US$300 million in approved orders in the past month, taking orders and approvals to more than $2 billion in the past 18 months, and has successfully passed an improved firing trial.
The system is made by the Javelin Joint Venture (JJV) of Raytheon and Lockheed Martin and the venture will increase manufacture of missiles to 3,960 annually by 2026 and 900 LWCLUs by 2030.
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1 week ago | 
shephardmedia.com | Damian Kemp
Research, development and testing group QinetiQ concluded the twelve months ending 31 March 2025, or FY2025, with a record order intake but a loss of £185.7 million (US$258.1 million) in the face of what the company described as challenging conditions.
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2 weeks ago | 
shephardmedia.com | Damian Kemp
Modernisation of the US’s nuclear triad, the importance of ruling cyberspace and recapitalising the standing forces and national guard are vital, according to forces’ heads appearing before US Senate Committees on 20 and 21 May.
US Air Force (USAF) Gen Thomas A Bussiere commander of USAF Global Strike Command and Strategic Command, told the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing that a top priority is sustaining and modernising legacy weapons systems.
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2 weeks ago | 
shephardmedia.com | Damian Kemp
Australia’s Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) has put out a call for Requests for Tender (RFTs) from industry for a low-cost, locally-made, medium-range Precision Loitering Munition (PLM).
Dubbed Mission Talon-Strike, the RFT states the “technology should seek to bridge the short to long-range gap and provide the land combat force with enhanced operational effects to mitigate potential adversaries”.
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2 weeks ago | 
shephardmedia.com | Damian Kemp
Milrem Robotics is to supply six THeMIS UGVs to France’s CNIM (Constructions Navales et Industrielles de la Méditerranée) Systèmes Industriels to be integrated with route clearance systems. They are to join seven other systems already in service in Ukraine in the same role with 15 THeMIS in total already in service in Ukraine.
