Saturday, January 16, 2021

Ukrainian Ministry of Defence developed new modular body armor


Ukrainian Ministry of Defence developed new modular body armor. The body armor is created based on NATO STANAG 2920. It's made by non-flammable materials and keep specifications in sea water during 24hrs Immersion.

ТС А01XJ.29423-287: 2020 (01) modular body armor will be received by Ukrainian Armed Forced into this year.







 

Friday, January 15, 2021

Uzbekistan Displays New Military Vehicles

Uzbekistan’s defense industry recently showed off new military vehicles entering production.


During President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s visit to the Academy of the Armed Forces of Uzbekistan on January 12, the president was shown several products produced by the Uzbek defense industry, including an armored vehicle named Qalqon (“Shield”), manufactured by Krantas Group. Three tactical vehicles were on display as well.

The tactical vehicles were based on the GAZ-3308 Sadko chassis. One had a manned combat station with a machine gun, while the other two did not. The Qalqon (possible based on Isuzu 4x4) armored vehicle did not have a combat station.


Under President Mirziyoyev, Uzbekistan has worked to re-arm its military with modern equipment, some of which is being supplied locally as a result of partnerships with international firms. Uzbekistan last year launched production of the Tarlon, whose design is based on the Turkish-made Ejder Yalcin.

As part of the first phase of the plant’s operation, Uzbekistan will ramp up production of the Tarlon and Qalqon vehicles, with a goal of eventually being able to manufacture 100 per year, The Tashkent Times reported. The second phase will see the facility manufacture trucks for civilian purposes.








Fast facts about Abrams M1A2 SEPs MBT and Trophy APS



US Army began fielding the Abrams M1A2 SEPv3 in 4QFY20. The Abrams M1A2 SEPv3 is an upgrade to the Abrams M1A2 SEPv2. The upgrades include:


  • Power generation and distribution to support the power demands of future technologies
  • Compatibility with joint battle command network
  • Survivability enhancements including Next Evolution Armor and reduction in vulnerability to IEDs including those controlled remotely
  • Improved lethality by providing the ability for the fire control system to digitally communicate with the new large caliber ammunition through use of an ammunition datalink
  • Energy efficiency and sustainment due to the incorporation of an under armor auxiliary power unit (UAAPU)
  • Improved silent watch capability


The Army plans to begin fielding the Abrams M1A2 SEPv4 in 1QFY25. The Abrams M1A2 SEPv4 is an upgrade to the Abrams M1A2 SEPv3. The upgrades include:

  • An improved Gunner’s Primary Sight (GPS) with 3rd Generation Forward Looking Infrared (3GEN FLIR), an Improved Laser Range Finder (LRF), and Color Camera
  • An improved Commander’s primary sight with 3GEN FLIR, an improved LRF, laser pointer, and color camera
  • Improved lethality by providing the ability for the fire control system to digitally communicate with the new Advanced Multi-Purpose (AMP) Round
  • Improved firing accuracy through the installation of a Meteorological Sensor
  • Improved onboard diagnostics
  • The Army began fielding the Abrams M1A2 SEPv3 domestically and OCONUS in FY20.
  • In 1QFY20, the Army completed live fire testing of the Abrams M1A2 SEPv3 tank. The last test series in the program evaluated the ability of kinetic threats to perforate the internal ammunition compartment and the subsequent reaction of the stowed ammunition on the Abrams M1A2 SEPv3 tank mission and the crew.

Trophy Active Protection System
  • In 4QFY19, the Army completed the testing of the Abrams SEPv2 with Trophy APS, which included maneuver, gunnery, and live fire test events. In June 2020, DOT&E published a classified test report summarizing the Abrams SEPv2 with Trophy APS performance.
  • The Army is currently planning the live fire test program for Abrams SEPv3 with Trophy APS. The test program is scheduled for 2QFY21 through 4QFY21.
  • The Trophy APS adds approximately 5,000 pounds  (2268 kg) to the Abrams tanks.

Assessment
Abrams M1A2 System Enhancement Packages
  • The Armored test unit equipped with the Abrams M1A2 SEPv3 accomplished its assigned task in 19 of 20 missions during operational testing. The UAAPU improves the unit’s ability to accomplish continuous operations, and the upgrades have not degraded the vehicle’s combat capability. Fuel usage when operating the Abrams M1A2 SEPv3 with the UAAPU was 78 percent less than the amount used when running the main engine at idle for the same amount of time.
  • Upgrades mitigate the Army’s identified capability gaps for the Abrams M1A2 SEPv2.
  • The Abrams M1A2 SEPv3 demonstrated 441 mean miles between combat mission failures (MMBCMF), exceeding its requirement of 320 MMBCMF during operational testing.
  • The Abrams M1A2 SEPv3 upgrades introduce suitability concerns. Weight growth limits the tank’s tactical transportability. The M1A2 SEPv3 is not transportable by current recovery vehicles, tactical bridges, or heavy equipment transporters. Crews had difficulty operating government-furnished equipment. The CROWS-LP thermal sight washed out during operations and had difficulty receiving software reloads. The Army could not reproduce the thermal wash out during testing.
  • The UAAPU reduces the acoustic detectability range of the Abrams M1A2 SEPv3 by 62 percent, when compared to the Abrams M1A2 SEPv2.
  • DOT&E continues to analyze the live fire test data to evaluate the Abrams M1A2 SEPv3 survivability and force protection against operationally expected threats. DOT&E will publish the M1A2 SEPv3 survivability and force protection evaluation details in a classified report in 1QFY21

    Thursday, January 14, 2021

    US Army issues $17 million in contracts for Tactical Intelligence Targeting Access Node development


    The US Army has issued agreements to Palantir Technologies and Raytheon Technologies in support of the design and software maturation of a new next-generation ground station.

    The agreements total $8.5 million per vendor over a 12-month period of performance, with the first phase informing the development and integration of the Tactical Intelligence Targeting Access Node, according to a Jan. 11 Army press release.

    The Tactical Intelligence Targeting Access Node (TITAN) is intended to be a key piece in the sensor-to-shooter chain, connecting sensors from all domains to war fighters and systems in the field to enable beyond-line-of-sight targeting. The system will be capable of downlinking data from multiple domains, processing it with artificial intelligence to create targeting data, and then delivering those solutions directly to the Fires networks, which can then determine the best available shooter to respond with.

    TITAN is the Army's mobile intelligence ground station architecture that will leverage space-based, aerial and terrestrial layer sensors to provide targetable data. The system will provide access to low earth orbit satellites, enable deep sensing and shorten the sensor-to-shooter loop.

    Palantir and Raytheon will each receive an $8.5 million other transaction authority (OTA) agreements for 12 months of work in the project’s first phase. That early stage will include a series of design reviews, software demonstrations and soldier touchpoints as the vendors mature the TITAN software and work on system-level design. The Army will eventually move to a single vendor for complete system prototyping for phase 2. The next stage will cover refinement of prototype capabilities, and the fourth and final phase will prepare a prototype that is ready to integrate future sensors and technology advancements.

    The Army plans to use TITAN in future Project Convergence demonstrations once delivered to the field in the fiscal year 2023 to FY-24 timeframe. During the first Project Convergence demonstration last September, the service used a TITAN surrogate to process data from a Gray Eagle drone. During that event, the Army was able to take overhead tactical satellite imagery and downlink it to a TITAN surrogate located at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington. The TITAN surrogate then used the Prometheus artificial intelligence program to create targeting solutions from that data. Next, those solutions were transported to the main demonstration area at Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona, where another AI program determined the best shooter to receive that targeting solution.

    Northrop Grumman has been tapped to build two TITAN prototypes. Those are expected to be delivered in 2022.


    Wednesday, January 13, 2021

    Patria Nemo 120mm Mortar System, Fire On the Move

    Patria Nemo mortar system can also be accurately fired from a moving vehicle.


    Patria Nemo is capable of both direct and indirect fire. One of the features makes Patria Nemo mortar system particularly advanced is its fire-on-the-move capability. Patria has originally developed the fire-on-the-move capability for Patria Nemo Navy version several years ago, but due to tightened customer expectations and the prospects of the battlefield, the development was taken a step further. To date, Patria has finalized the qualification of the fire-on-the-move capability on land-based systems in both direct and indirect fire missions.


    Patria Nemo enables the full potential of modern mortar system with its usability on land and at sea, operation on the move, and high level of protection and firepower. Patria Nemo is a real game changer on the battlefield.


    Patria Nemo mortar system can also be accurately fired from a moving vehicle. No competitors can boast a similar feature.

    Although mortars are simple and effective weapons for indirect fire, they are vulnerable on the modern battlefield.

    Patria’s response to this challenge is Patria Nemo mortar system, which takes mobility, protection and firepower to the next level both on land and at sea.

    Thanks to product development, the vehicle-mounted mortar can also be accurately fired on the move. No other manufacturer can boast a similar feature.

    “Speed is its greatest advantage. The vehicle does not have to stop in order to fire, as all functions can be performed on the move. This makes it possible to open fire almost immediately after the command is given,” says Kari Reunamäki, Vice President, Weapon Systems from Patria’s Land business unit.

    A vehicle in constant motion also makes Patria Nemo a more difficult target.


    Works both on land and at sea


    Patria Nemo is a 120 mm turreted mortar system mounted on a vehicle chassis. Armour protects the crew from ballistic threats, firing residues and combat gases.

    The light and compact turret can be installed on a light, tracked chassis or wheeled armoured vehicles in the 6x6 and 8x8 class. The mortar turret is also suitable for naval use on, for example, fast patrol boats and coastal vessels.

    “Patria Nemo has a modular design, which makes it extremely flexible and also attractive with regard to future system updates,” says Reunamäki.


    Mobile firinge requires top expertise


    According to Reunamäki, mobile firinge requires the turret to have an effective stabilisation system which compensates the motions of the turret caused by a moving vehicle.

    Accurate fire also requires an advanced calculation system to determine continuously changing firinge values.

    “Nemo calculation system is based on Patria’s own software expertise, which is the best in its field.”

    Patria Nemo’s barrel is about one metre longer than traditional mortar tubes. This ensures a higher muzzle velocity of the mortar round, thus a longer range of up to ten kilometres.

    Nemo is also able to fire Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact (MRSI) missions. Using MRSI, a maximum of six mortars can be fired on different trajectories so that they all hit the target at the same time.

    “This maximizes the impact on the target,” says Reunamäki.

    In addition to indirect fire, Nemo also has a direct-fire capability with the aid of its own day/thermal cameras and laser range finder. This capability can be used for close-range fire support, in urban warfare, and to defend the mortar carrier up to a distance of one kilometre.


    Patria Nemo

    • A 120 mm turreted mortar system whose mobility, protection and accuracy meet all the requirements of modern warfare and crisis management.
    • Can be installed on a light, tracked chassis, on wheeled armoured vehicles in the 6x6 and 8x8 class, or on boats/ships.
    • Rapid response, as the mortars can also be fired from a moving vehicle.

    Via Patria Nemo fires on the move 

    Tuesday, January 12, 2021

    WORLD AIR FORCES 2021

     Information about world military aviation on the link WORLD AIR FORCES 2021




    Redback IFV in Australia

     Drone footage of the new Redback IFV from Hanwha taken in early January 2021. The Redback is competing for the Australian Army's Land 400 Phase 3 IFV program.


    Hanwha Redback IFV will be tested and compared with the German Lynx KF41 IFV. So, within a year we will find out who will win.

    Detailed about Land 400 Phase 3:






    Monday, January 11, 2021

    OF-32 HE-FRAG projectile firing table

     


    Dispersion of HE-FRAG projectile in maximum range 


    3UOF17 round (consist of 3OF32 projectile, 4A47 charge and 3V35 fuse).



    Sunday, January 10, 2021

    US Army will choose between Rafael Trophy and Rheinmetall ADS

    Miniaturized missile defenses work well on heavy tanks, but efforts to fit such Active Protection Systems on light vehicles like Stryker have failed – so far. Now the Army will test two lightweight options: Rafael’s Trophy VPS and Rheinmetall’s ADS.


    Rheinmetall Active Defense System destroys an incoming threat at the last instant, by design

    This year, the Army will fire live anti-tank warheads at two rival Active Protection Systems to assess how best to protect lightweight armored vehicles like its 8×8 Stryker. The contenders in this “live fire characterization activity” – it isn’t officially a test – will be the German Rheinmetall Active Defense System (ADS) and the Israeli Rafael Trophy Vehicle Protection System (VPS). Not participating, our sources tell us, is the American Artis Iron Curtain, which was the Army’s original pick to protect the Stryker but was subsequently rejected after Army testers found it wanting.

    Now, the Rheinmetall ADS and the Rafael Trophy VPS won’t be installed on actual Stryker vehicles. Instead, they’ll be set up on specially designed armored targets. That will allow the Army to measure precisely what damage, if any, gets through the active protection systems from different kinds of attacks.

    “The Army intends to conduct live fire characterization activities with the two hard-kill active protection systems on platform agnostic test rigs,” said Ashley John, spokesperson for the Program Executive Officer – Ground Combat Systems (PEO-GCS).

    A “hard kill” system, like ADS and VPS, is one that physically shoots down incoming anti-tank missiles and rockets. “Soft kill” decoys and jamming, by contrast, just  make the enemy miss. Hard-kill has worked well on heavy tanks. Israel, Russia and the US all use it. But, as the Army has painfully discovered, it’s much harder to get it to work on lighter vehicles – which need protection the most. For the Stryker in particular, while the reliable, affordable vehicle has become an Army workhorse around the world — with variants carrying everything from infantry to anti-aircraft missiles, 30mm cannon, jammers, and even lasers — the service has struggled for years to make it more survivable in high-intensity combat.

    What’s the hold-up? Historically, hard-kill Active Protection Systems are heavy and bulky; they need a lot of electrical power to run radars and targeting computers; and when they intercept incoming warheads, they may cause them to prematurely detonate or burst into shrapnel – “residual penetration” that a heavily armored tank can shrug off, but which a Stryker or other lightly armored vehicle cannot.

    The Germans and Israelis have taken different approaches to solving this problem. Rheinmetall’s ADS uses a large number of small explosive charges distributed around the vehicle, computer-controlled to detonate at the precise millisecond to cut apart incoming warheads just before they detonate. Rafael’s Trophy uses a compact missile launcher, which lobs mini-missiles at incoming anti-tank missiles and rockets to intercept them further out. There’s a big debate over which of the two approaches is safer, both for the vehicle being protected and for foot troops or nearby civilians.


    For continue the reading follow the link - Army Tries (Again) To Protect Stryker: Rafael or Rheinmetall?

    Merkava Mark 4 Model 400

    The latest iteration of Merkava is called Mark 4 Model 400, which has a newer C2 (Command and Control) system and enhanced TROPHY (note the  the added optical sensor over the radar).