Iraq says its spending big on artillery and jets. Can it afford them?

Iraq says its spending big on artillery and jets. Can it afford them?
Iraq says its spending big on artillery and jets. Can it afford them?

The government in Baghdad has announced new contracts for US-made weapons, but it’s not clear if the system will ever come to fruition.

UAE’s First Air Defense Missile To Be Used on German Oerlikon Skynex

UAE’s First Air Defense Missile To Be Used on German Oerlikon Skynex
UAE’s First Air Defense Missile To Be Used on German Oerlikon Skynex

“What made Rheinmetall sign with us? This shows that we have the expertise, right infrastructure, test labs and development support to secure such big deals,” Saeed Al Mansoori, CEO of Halkon tells Breaking Defense.

Iron Dome Is Coming To US; Can The Army Plug It In?

Iron Dome Is Coming To US; Can The Army Plug It In?
Iron Dome Is Coming To US; Can The Army Plug It In?

Israel’s Rafael will soon ship the first missile defense battery to the US and wants to build a factory here. The really hard part: connecting Iron Dome to US Army command networks.

Israelis Seek Lasers Vs. Hamas, Hezbollah Rocket Barrages

Israelis Seek Lasers Vs. Hamas, Hezbollah Rocket Barrages
Israelis Seek Lasers Vs. Hamas, Hezbollah Rocket Barrages

Israel largely abandoned lasers 12 years ago, but “there is a growing number of experts that understand the mistake that was made,” a senior Israeli source told Breaking Defense. “(We’re) ready to restart development with the more advanced building blocks available today.”

Inside Army Futures Command: CFT Chiefs Take Charge

Inside Army Futures Command: CFT Chiefs Take Charge
Inside Army Futures Command: CFT Chiefs Take Charge

“We were never above probably a total of eight people,” the aviation Cross Functional Team chief, Brig. Gen. Wally Rugen, told me. “We’re not this big colossal thing, we’re a lean, mean organization.”

It’s Raytheon Vs. Dynetics/Lockheed For Army’s 100 kW Laser

It’s Raytheon Vs. Dynetics/Lockheed For Army’s 100 kW Laser
It’s Raytheon Vs. Dynetics/Lockheed For Army’s 100 kW Laser

Lockheed is as close to an incumbent as you get in the rapidly evolving world of high-energy fiber lasers. Raytheon, by contrast, only recently made a big play for laser weapons, but they can draw on their experience with lower-powered but exquisitely tuned laser sensors.

Army Accelerates Air & Missile Defense Five Years: MSHORAD, MML, Lasers

Army Accelerates Air & Missile Defense Five Years: MSHORAD, MML, Lasers
Army Accelerates Air & Missile Defense Five Years: MSHORAD, MML, Lasers

Today, Brig. Gen. McIntire told me, Army field artillery and air & missile defense are like two boxers, one who can only punch and the other who can only block. “We’ve got to have one boxer that has the ability to strike and block simultaneously,” he said. “That’s the speed that we’re going to need in the future.”

Army: 50 kW Laser Stryker By 2021, 100 kW FMTV Truck By 2022

Army: 50 kW Laser Stryker By 2021, 100 kW FMTV Truck By 2022
Army: 50 kW Laser Stryker By 2021, 100 kW FMTV Truck By 2022

HUNTSVILLE, ALA.: The Army keeps putting more powerful lasers on smaller vehicles. Battlefield lasers in testing today can shoot down snooping quadcopters and other small drones. By the early 2020s, however vehicles mobile enough to keep up with combat brigades – Strykers and FMTV trucks – will have power in the 50 to 100 kilowatt…

Army Races To Rebuild Short-Range Air Defense: New Lasers, Vehicles, Units

Army Races To Rebuild Short-Range Air Defense: New Lasers, Vehicles, Units
Army Races To Rebuild Short-Range Air Defense: New Lasers, Vehicles, Units

ARLINGTON: As Russia and other adversaries stock up on drones, rockets, and missiles, the US Army is building up defenses to shoot them down. But that Short-Range Air Defense force has been devastated by a decade of cuts. The service’s plan to revive SHORAD involves deploying to Europe about 50 more of its current Avenger…

Lasers Vs. Drones: Directed Energy Summit Emphasizes The Achievable

Lasers Vs. Drones: Directed Energy Summit Emphasizes The Achievable
Lasers Vs. Drones: Directed Energy Summit Emphasizes The Achievable

WASHINGTON: When do laser weapons finally become real? The low-hanging fruit for a near-term application looks like it’s shooting down enemy drones before they can target US forces. Both the Army and Marines are testing vehicle-mounted “counter-UAS” (Unmanned Aerial System) lasers, while the Navy already has a bulkier model aboard the USS Ponce in the…