Israeli, Serbian, And Swedish Self-Propelled Howitzers Are participate To the U.S. Army new Howitzer Competition

Self-propelled howitzer designs from Israel, Serbia, and Sweden, as well as American models, will take part in a U.S. Army shoot-off at Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona early next year. The service is looking for new mobile artillery piece for its brigades equipped with Stryker wheeled armored vehicles, which are presently equipped with towed 155mm M777 howitzers.

The Army wants a wheeled howitzer that can keep up with its Stryker units, so the Israeli firm is shipping its 8x8 ATMOS gun to Yuma, where it’ll fire “hundreds of rounds.”

US Army soldiers will get to fire their Israeli counterparts’ newest howitzer early next year, when the Elbit ATMOS participates in a shoot off alongside rival guns. The weapon is already in service with the Israeli Defense Force and other nations; this will be its American debut.

All the competitors are 155mm howitzers mounted on trucks – typically six or eight-wheeled – and it’s an increasingly crowded field. While the Army isn’t announcing which companies have won contracts to come to the shoot off, there are reports of at least three other Army-approved competitors:

• AM General, maker of the iconic Humvee, is offering the Brutus, boasting a unique recoil-reduction system (built by Mandus Group) that lets them mount the gun on a relatively lightweight truck. (They already put a lighter 105mm gun on a Humvee). This is a brand-new system not in service with any army.

• BAE Systems, which builds the M2 Bradley and other heavy armored vehicles, is offering the Archer, built by its Swedish branch and already in service with the Swedish army.

• Global Military Products is offering a Serbian gun, the Yugoimport NORA. We frankly don’t know much about this one.

• And now there’s the Israeli ATMOS. Elbit, an up-and-coming company in Israel, is specifically bringing the same 8×8 configuration used by the Israeli Defense Force, nicknamed “Iron Sabre.”

Why so many foreign systems? Well, a wheeled self-propelled howitzer is something a lot of other armies use, but the US military hasn’t wanted until now. Many other nations – Russia, France, and Israel itself come to mind – rely heavily on wheeled armored fighting vehicles, which are generally much cheaper to buy and maintain than tracked ones.

The US Army’s heavy armored units, however, have long disdained wheeled armor and equipped themselves exclusively with tracked ones, even in supporting roles, because tracked machines can carry much more weight – especially armor – and move better over rough terrain. The Army is currently both modernizing its M109 Paladin howitzers and testing a next-generation Extended Range Cannon Artillery (ERCA) system, both heavy tracked machines built by BAE.

Full story - Israel’s Elbit Enters US Howitzer Shoot Off

Polish Army receive first unit of PILICA Anti-Aircraft Missile System

Polish Army receive first unit of PILICA Anti-Aircraft Missile System. The system have officially entered in service at the 3rd Air Defense Missile Brigade of Polish Army. This is the one of the six ordered system.

One system includes: 6 fire units with artillery tractors, command station, radar station, 2 transport vehicles and 2 ammunition vehicles. Each fire unit of the PILICA system consists of two 23 mm caliber cannons and two GROM / PIORUN anti-aircraft missile launchers. Each set has its own optoelectronic head with a thermal imaging camera and laser rangefinder.

This configuration gives the PILICA system the ability to conduct autonomous operations, but also to operate as part of an integrated, multi-layered anti-aircraft defense as a very short range system (VSHORAD).

Forest Light-21 Japan-US bilateral training exercise

 

U.S. Marines with 3d Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, in a snow storm during exercise Forest Light 21 in the Niigata Prefecture, Japan, on Dec. 16, 2020. Forest Light is an annual bilateral training exercise that strengthens the interoperability and readiness of the U.S. Marine Corps and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force to deter aggression and defeat any threat. This iteration is focused on seizing and defending key maritime terrain as an integrated force in support of naval operations in the defense of Japan. 3/8 is forward-deployed in the Indo-Pacific under 3d Marine Division.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jonathan Willcox and Lance Cpl. Scott Aubuchon.

US Army Manned Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) concept

This past summer at Fort Carson, Col., modified Bradley Fighting Vehicles, known as Mission Enabling Technologies Demonstrators, and modified M113 tracked armored personnel carriers, or Robotic Combat Vehicles, were used for the Soldier Operational Experimentation (SOE) Phase 1 to further develop learning objectives for the Manned Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) concept.

Photo by Jerome Aliotta

Russia tests direct-ascent anti-satellite missile

Russia has conducted a test of a direct-ascent anti-satellite (DA-ASAT) missile.

P222 Nudol interceptor Mobile TELs on MZKT-792911 chassis from the patent on the SPU design.

“Russia publicly claims it is working to prevent the transformation of outer space into a battlefield, yet at the same time Moscow continues to weaponize space by developing and fielding on-orbit and ground-based capabilities that seek to exploit U.S. reliance on space-based systems,” said U.S. Army Gen. James Dickinson, U.S. Space Command commander.

“Russia’s persistent testing of these systems demonstrates threats to U.S. and allied space systems are rapidly advancing. The establishment of U.S. Space Command as the nation’s unified combatant command for space and U.S. Space Force as the primary branch of the U.S. Armed Forces that presents space combat and combat support capabilities to U.S. Space Command could not have been timelier. We stand ready and committed to deter aggression and defend our Nation and our allies from hostile acts in space.”

The United States is concerned by Russia’s continued development and deployment of several types of ground-based and space-based ASAT weapons. These actions are contrary to Russia’s diplomatic and public stance against the weaponization of space. Specifically, Russia has demonstrated two completely different types of space weapons.

The first type of kinetic weapon is a DA-ASAT system capable of destroying satellites in low Earth orbit, which they have tested multiple times. If this weapon is tested on an actual satellite or used operationally, it will cause a large debris field that could endanger commercial satellites and irrevocably pollute the space domain.

3D-render of the SPU P222 on the MZKT-792911 chassis 

The second type is a co-orbital ASAT, a space-based weapon system, which demonstrated an on-orbit kinetic weapon in 2017 and again in 2020. Furthermore, in March 2018, President Putin announced the development of a ground-based laser system for use by the Russian Space Forces, which the Russian military acknowledged as a “combat laser system.” This pattern of behavior would be considered potentially threatening in any other domain.

“Russia has made space a warfighting domain by testing space-based and ground-based weapons intended to target and destroy satellites," Dickinson added. "This fact is inconsistent with Moscow’s public claims that Russia seeks to prevent conflict in space. Space is critical to all nations. It is a shared interest to create the conditions for a safe, stable, and operationally sustainable space environment. The demands on the space systems continue in this time of crisis where global logistics, transportation, and communications are key to defeating the COVID-19 pandemic.” 

Bundeswehr awards Rheinmetall framework contract to supply tank ammunition - Gross aggregate value as high as €556 million

The German Bundeswehr has awarded Rheinmetall an extensive framework contract to supply tank ammunition. Under this agreement, 203,000 rounds of 120mm x 570 cal. service and practice ammunition – the kind fired from the main armament of Leopard tanks, for example – can be procured through to the end of 2028. The framework agreement represents sales volume of up to €556 million, including value added tax. A first call-off of 15,000 rounds of DM88 ammunition came at the beginning of December, with delivery to be complete by the end of 2020. This order is worth €26.5 million, including VAT.

The framework contract encompasses delivery of a total of 19,000 rounds of DM11 ammunition, 95,000 DM88 cartridges and 89,000 rounds of DM98 ammunition. Developed by Rheinmetall, the DM11 is a multipurpose tank ammunition which can be programmed to detonate on impact (with or without a time delay) or in mid-air. The DM98 is the accompanying full-calibre practice round, which features reduced range and lower cost but otherwise displays comparable ballistic characteristics. The subcalibre DM88 is the practice version of the Bundeswehr’s armour-piercing DM63-KE ammunition.

This order highlights once again Rheinmetall’s position at the forefront of ammunition development and production in Europe. In light of the sustained production of these three ammunition types during the lifetime of this agreement, and their resulting availability at short notice, the framework contract also offers other 120mm smoothbore users indirect advantages with respect to logistics. For Rheinmetall, the framework agreement assures a basic level of capacity utilization in ammunition production for the next eight years.

Footage of Sprut-SDM1 trials

The 2S25M Sprut-SDM1 is a Russian light tank. It is developed in the 1990s by VTZ from Volgograd, KurganMachinery & Industrial Group N.V. The 2S25M Sprut-SDM1 based on the Russian armored infantry fighting vehicle BMD-4M.

The 2S25M Sprut-SDM1 is a new airborne light tank. It is a modernized version of the previous Sprut-SD. The new Sprut-SDM1 light tank is unified with the chassis of the new BMD-4M airborne combat vehicle and uses some fire control elements of the T-90MS main battle tank. The Sprud-SDM1 was first publicly revealed in 2016. It was announced that a first batch of 6 vehicles will be delivered to the Russian airborne forces in 2017. This light tank was delivered for official military trials in 2020. These trials should be completed in 2021-2022. Currently only a relatively small number of the original Sprut-SDs light tanks are in service with the Russian airborne units.

Video link - Щупальца «Спрута»: уникальные кадры испытаний новейшего легкого танка для ВДВ

The Sprut-SDM1 is officially referred in Russia as a self-propelled anti-tank gun, or tank destroyer. Though it is a light tank by its function. This combat vehicle was specially designed for the Russian airborne forces. This tank is airportable and can be paradropped. Furthermore it is fully amphibious. Its main role is to support airborne landing operations. It is intended to engage hostile armor, as well as to support infantry.

Strategic forces of Russian federation receive next Avangard HGV

Strategic forces of Russian federation receive next 15A35-71 (is the development of the famous UR-100 TTKh) ICBM with Avangard HGV (Hypersonic Glide vehicle).

The unit which first received the HGV complex is the 13th Orenburg Red Banner Rocket Division (Military Unit Number 68545) is a military formation of the 31st Rocket Army, Strategic Missile Forces, located in Yasny, ZATO Komarovsky, Orenburg Oblast.

Details about upgraded Ariete MBT engine

As we know, Italian Army planning to the upgrading its MBT Ariete (we already wrote about this program, link - იტალიური Ariete-ს მოდერნიზაციის პროგრამა). Below is the some very interesting details about new engine of Ariete MBT.

Sorry about direct translation, but this is what we have:

Focus on the CIO (Consorzio Iveco Leonardo) update program on the Aries AMV (Ammodernamento di Mezza Vita of the Ariete - Mid Life Update) for the EI. As mentioned, the program is well underway, with the work areas well outlined and set up, with the delivery of the prototypes expected in the course of 2021. At present there are various info (1)

as regards above all the powertrain, which for obvious reasons (due to timing and thousands H of bench tests), is not a new concept, but is a complete re-engineering of the current V12 MTCA (Modular Turbocharger Aftercooler), in fact (2)

during the renovation, #IVECO is implementing substantial changes to the original engine block in V12 architecture; among the many works in progress are: - the replacement of the mechanical feed pump with an electronically controlled Commonrail type (3)

- the displacement will be increased from the current 26L to 30L by changing cylinders, pistons and crankshaft, increasing the stroke of the cylinders. It should be mentioned that most of the new mechanical components come from the turbo Vector V8 of the new Centauro 2. (4)

With the adoption of the new mechanical components and the complete reconstruction of the powertrains, we go from the current 1250hp (1270 in emergency situations through overboost) to 1500hp, such as to guarantee a pot / weight ratio of 24hp / t with all the protection kits installed 4

(PSO Peace Support and War); i and 25 hp / t with the War kit only. The modified engine has the designation "V12AMV". Given the increase in engine torque, improvements were also made to the IVECO automatic gearbox (license #ZF) (5)

In fact, the German company has already studied the modifications necessary to receive the greater torque in entry and its distribution. New gearboxes are already planned by ZF through a specific kit. It should be noted that the updated engine will offer a value (6)

Almost three times higher torque at low rpm, which will make the undercarriage much more responsive even in the execution of the "pivot" maneuver. - Completely redesigned the braking system and its subsystems through the use of advanced components (7).

As a result of the increase in weight and the greater drive torque, 20% wider tracks are also provided to offer the undercarriage a lower footprint and will allow it to more easily overcome soft ground. (8)

PS: My next Aries focus will be on the tower and all the new electronic systems that are being implemented on the chariots. 

 

In original you can read on the Ciro Nappi's tweet:

🇮🇹Focus sul programma di aggiornamento del #CIO sull'#Ariete AMV per l'EI. Come detto, il programma si trova ben avviato, con le aree di lavoro ben schematizzate ed impostate, con la consegna dei prototipi prevista nel corso del 2021. Allo stato attuale si hanno diverse info (1) pic.twitter.com/FVkRwiM0zo

— Ciro Nappi (@CiroNappi6) December 15, 2020

gatewayONE and attritableONE test moves joint force one step closer to “IoT.mil,” demonstrates F-22, F-35 first secure bi-directional data sharing

A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor and F-35A Lightning II fly in formation with the XQ-58A Valkyrie low-cost unmanned aerial vehicle over the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground testing range, Ariz., during a series of tests Dec. 9, 2020. This integrated test follows a series of gatewayONE ground tests that began during the inaugural Department of the Air Force on-ramp last year in December. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. James Cason)

WASHINGTON (AFNS) - On Dec. 9, the joint force took another step toward achieving a military Internet of Things when fifth-generation aircraft overcame long standing connectivity limitations to share actionable operational data in their native secure digital “languages” with and through multiple sources for the first time.

This test was the latest demonstration of the transformative warfighting impact of the open architecture underpinning the Advanced Battle Management System.

The joint effort included a Marine Corps F-35B variant and the Air Force F-22 Raptor and F-35A Lightning II variant flying with an attritableONE XQ-58A Valkyrie for the first time. The primary tests took place at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona with preparatory tests at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.

Lt. Col. Kate Stowe, gatewayONE program manager at the Air Force Lifecycle Management Center, set out with 18 test objectives and successfully achieved nine.

“Testing is all about pushing the limits of what’s possible, finding out where the toughest challenges are, and adapting creative solutions to overcoming difficult problem sets,” Stowe said. “The real win of the day was seeing the gatewayONE establish a secure two-way translational data path across multiple platforms and multiple domains. That’s the stuff ABMS is all about.”

An XQ-58A Valkyrie low-cost unmanned aerial vehicle launches at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz., Dec. 9, 2020. The acquisition team – comprised of Air Force Research Laboratory and Air Force Life Cycle Management Center personnel working in conjunction with Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.’s 46th Test Squadron – came together to conduct the historic test. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joshua King)

Fifth-generation fighters are typically limited to communicating with each other and to command and control centers via legacy tactical data connections, not in their native, but incompatible digital “languages” – Multifunctional Advanced Data Link for F-35 and Intra-Flight Data Link for the F-22. Not only can gatewayONE translate between those formats, in this test it moved data that is normally relegated to an operations center or tactical ground node, directly pushing it into the cockpit at the edge of the multi-domain battlespace for the first time.

Additionally, the test pushed the position data of each platform outside of the aircraft’s close-proximity formation through gatewayONE, which enables battle managers on the ground or in the air to better orchestrate operations. The gatewayONE payload also passed tracks or cues from ground operators to both fighters and passed a cue from the F-35A to the F-22 for the first time. These bi-directional communications pathways occurred in the platforms’ native digital “languages” and the data was displayed through the aircrafts’ organic systems.

“The gatewayONE payload really showed what’s possible and helped us take a big step towards achieving (Joint All-Domain Command and Control),” said Lt. Col. Eric Wright, a 59th Test and Evaluation Squadron F-35 pilot. “This critical capability provides additional connections between our advanced fighters and other forces and battle managers across all domains. The future is promising, and gatewayONE will allow the F-22 and F-35 to connect to and feed data sources they've never before accessed. Those future connections will bring additional battlefield awareness into the cockpit and enable integrated fires across U.S. forces.”

Additional successful tests during the week included establishing a communications pathway between the KC-46 Pegasus tanker and a ground node using commercial internet routing standards over the Tactical Targeting Network Technology waveform and the F-35B sending full-motion video to a ground controller.

“If fifth-generation platforms are going to be quarterbacks of a joint-penetrating team, we have to be able to communicate with those quarterbacks in an operationally relevant manner and enable data sharing between them, to them, and from them. For years people said it couldn’t be done. Today the team turned another page toward making the impossible possible,” said Preston Dunlap, Air and Space Force’s chief architect. “In just 12 months, the team has opened the door to a world where we can put the power of an operations center into the cockpit at the tactical edge.”

Full story - gatewayONE and attritableONE test moves joint force one step closer to “IoT.mil,” demonstrates F-22, F-35 first secure bi-directional data sharing

A remote control operator speaks into a radio at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz. during a XQ-58A Valkyrie test flight, Dec. 9, 2020. The operator controlled the aircraft during a test flight where it flew alongside the Air Force F-22 Raptor and F-35A Lightning II for the first time. This integrated test follows a series of gatewayONE ground tests that began during the inaugural Department of the Air Force on-ramp last year in December. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joshua King)