France Picks MBDA-Safran Team For Rocket System

An MBDA-led European effort to create a hypersonic glide vehicle to inform the development of a hypersonic interceptor also will support research on hypersonic deep strike capabilities as well.

Safran and Edge Group signed said they have agreed around a joint venture to work on the French manufacturer’s Hammer precision weapon.

The French government has named a team of MBDA and Safran as the preferred bidder to develop a 150-km-range rocket artillery system.

The team of ArianeGroup, Soframe and Thales developing the X-Fire rocket system says they plan to offer conventional ballistic missile strike capability to engage targets at up to 2,500 km.

Australian counter-drone specialist Electro Optic Systems is nearing a contract to launch the highest-power version yet of its Apollo high-energy laser system.

Elbit Systems’ plan to equip the Israeli Air Force and potentially others with airborne high-power lasers is starting to take shape.

Diehl Defense and Spanish Missile Systems have agreed to continue their relationship should their hypersonic defense weapon concept be selected for the next step in an EU-funded program.