Missile Defense & Weapons

A long-term promise of seamless battlefield connectivity finally is being realized in experiments and demonstrations around the world.

The German business of missile manufacturer MBDA said it has been forced to undertake a restructuring after the German government again delayed plans to contract a new ground-based air defense system.

Hungary has ordered Kongsberg’s Norwegian Advanced Surface to Air Missile System to replace its Soviet-era ground-based air defense system.

Australia said it will work with the U.S. in developing and testing prototype hypersonic cruise missiles.

Defense officials have said UK plans to develop a laser directed energy weapon are “on-track” despite the program suffering a year-long delay.

Brazil is to develop an air-launched cruise missile for use from its new fleet of F-39 Gripen combat aircraft, becoming the first Latin American country to pursue such a capability.

Will Greece buy the F-35?; Missile defense milestone; U.S. Navy considers new trainer; and Raytheon employee disciplined.

Collins has started developing the critical communications suite for possible replacement fleet for airborne nuclear command-and-control.

A U.S. Navy SM-3 Block IIA missile late on Nov. 16 shot down an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) target in a landmark test for the U.S

The U.S. Army will activate two air defense artillery batteries at Fort Bliss in Texas to test and evaluate the Iron Dome system for integration into the service’s existing architecture.

European missile manufacturer MBDA’s high-tier missile/long-range mobile missile (MHT/MLP) has been selected to fulfill France’s Future Tactical Air-to-Surface Missile (MAST-F) requirement.

Northrop Grumman is looking to become the third major missile provider to the Pentagon and allied customers, the company’s chief executive said Nov. 11.

The sources sought notice asked interested companies to supply a wide range of information, such as a rough order of magnitude estimate for the cost and schedule of developing and delivering up 8,000 missiles.

Lithuania has inducted its first ground-based Norwegian Advanced Surface to Air Missile System into service, becoming the first of the Baltic States to field such a capability.

Non-European Union countries such as the U.S. and UK are being allowed to participate in the EU’s PESCO defense cooperation initiative.

The French Air Force has declared the new Talios targeting pod operational on its Dassault Rafales equipped with the F3R upgrade.

Seven years after the demise of the X-51 program, the Pentagon puts Boeing back in the running for hypersonic cruise missile programs.

Japan is focusing on maritime deployment instead of ground installation of additional Lockheed Martin Aegis systems.

Britain and France appear to be taking steps to press ahead with the joint development of a future cruise and anti-ship missile, despite apparent ongoing differences about how to proceed with development.

It is easy to dismiss the proposal as a congressionally-mandated busy work for the Pentagon, and perhaps that’s all it is. And, yet, Israel’s military has demonstrated a unique capacity for strategic surprise. Could the idea of an MOP in Israeli hands be enough to create a deterrent effect in Tehran?

The management of the UK’s nuclear weapons stockpile is to be brought back under government control from a Lockheed Martin-led private consortium.

Speaking to the IDGA Hypersonic Weapons Summit on Oct. 29, Gen. Timothy Ray also suggested the non-nuclear policy for hypersonic weapons could be revisited.

What’s next for U.S. Air Force tankers; Ecuador receives H145s; continued F-35 delays; and unmanned teaming for Wildcat.

U.S. government officials often accuse China of stealing or copying American research in hypersonics, but a close reading of Chinese research papers actually was the inspiration for the new consortium.

The disclosure adds another option to the Pentagon’s ever-expanding arsenal of hypersonic weapon development programs.