“Since the formation of 216 Squadron in 2020 there have been no completed tests or trials conducted either in-house or with industry,” said James Cartlidge, UK minister for defence procurement.
By Tim MartinWhat’s new in naval radars and missiles: Defending the Pacific
Defending U.S. naval forces in the Pacific, Red Sea, and elsewhere require a range of systems from close-in weapons to anti-ballistic missiles.
“There’s no technical argument why you would need German soldiers” for Ukraine to operate Taurus missiles, analyst Fabian Hoffmann said. “It’s simply because the chancellor doesn’t want to give up final targeting authority.”
By Tim Martin
The ITN phase is expected to deliver, for the first time, a full breakdown of requirements and costs for industry for the estimated $1.3 billion program.
By Tim Martin
“We have learnt, and will continue to learn, important lessons relating to uncrewed technology from Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine, including developing and delivering long range air and maritime strike uncrewed systems,” notes the new 11 page UK military drone strategy.
By Tim Martin
The British Army has shared how it plans on reshaping a dismal land vehicle and equipment export track record that saw it contribute just 4 percent, equivalent to $4.5 billion, toward all UK military exports between 2012 and 2021.
By Tim Martin
“We think they [Russian army] have a [reconnaissance strike] response time that sits between three and six minutes at the moment, and it’s getting better over time,” said a senior UK military official.
By Tim Martin
“The Challenger 3 program will deliver the best tank in NATO … and deliver a network enabled, digital main battle tank, providing the soldier with a step changing capability,” said Rory Breen, strategy and future business director at RBSL.
By Tim Martin
How to ensure readiness of next-generation defense technology: Solving the issue of massive heat.
High-performance systems generate tremendous amounts of heat that can compromise missions and make high-tech systems less effective in tactical environments. But there is a solution to this modern-age challenge.
The UK lauded the test of the laser air defense weapon, developed by Britain’s defense innovation unit, just weeks after an American admiral said it was time to be more “intellectually honnest” about what the class of weapons can do.
By Tim Martin
Despite the UK MoD not signing off on any orders for the latest drone package, aircraft likely to be under consideration are smaller size systems, particularly soldier portable or “over the hill” drones similar to Teledyne FLIR Black Hornets, one analyst said.
By Tim Martin
Bryden Spurling, senior research leader for defence and security at RAND, said that there “was clearly reluctance [on the part of Washington and London] to strike the Houthis despite the threat they pose to one of the world’s most important waterways.”
By Tim Martin and Agnes Helou
Germany had long blocked the sale of the fighters, but now the German foreign minister reportedly said the situation in the Middle East has changed.
By Tim Martin
The restart will involve BAE Systems UK and US-based supply chain, and first deliveries are expected in 2025.
By Tim Martin
A simmering dispute between London and Berlin over exporting Eurofighter Typhoons to Saudi Arabia could pave the way for Dassault’s rival Rafale offer to succeed, Eric Trappier suggested.
By Christina Mackenzie
The UK originally announced a £1.4 billion agreement ($1.8 billion) had been reached for the 14 H-47 ER aircraft in May 2021 with deliveries set to begin in 2026 and run until 2030, but budgetary pressures linked to COVID-19 caused London to order a three year delay.
By Tim Martin
