Cambrian Defence & Space’s Post

Small, cheap and numerous: a military revolution is upon us, Bradley Perrett "Drones are roaming over the battlefield in their thousands to find out what’s hiding where. Even if they aren’t carrying weapons, their reconnaissance pictures can be used to call in strikes by artillery, rockets or other drones. Armies and their suppliers need to think hard and fast about what to do about all this. One answer is to jam drones’ radio links—and that may work, if the jammer is powerful, in the right location and transmitting on the right frequency. Shooting drones down is most desirable, but the enormous difficulty is finding a way of doing that cheaply enough. For example, Australia is equipping its army with NASAMS anti-aircraft missile batteries, which are undoubtedly good at destroying high-performance jet aircraft and missiles. But the least expensive interceptor missile fired by a NASAMS costs about $600,000. If that’s our only way to bring down $5000 drones, then we’ll will run out of interceptors long before an opponent runs out of drones."

Bravo! This is an important capability we must have, but in time of war with a peer competitor, it should be a last resort. Better to provide destroyers with what I have called Autonomous Magazine Extenders (AME): Unmanned vessels filled with VLS cells that are controlled by a manned warship. When an AME has no more missiles, it is replaced with a loaded one while the empty returns to port to be reloaded pierside. https://lnkd.in/eZXht7kW

Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr strikes two Ukrainian brigades over past day Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr struck two Ukrainian army brigades and destroyed two enemy ammunition depots in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported. "Battlegroup Dnepr units inflicted damage on manpower and equipment of the Ukrainian army’s 65th mechanized and 128th mountain assault brigades in areas near the settlements of Novodanilovka and Pavlovka in the Zaporozhye Region," the ministry said. The Ukrainian army’s losses in that frontline area over the past 24 hours amounted to 80 personnel, 11 motor vehicles, a 152mm D-20 howitzer, two 122mm D-30 howitzers and an Anklav-N electronic warfare station, it specified. In addition, Russian troops destroyed two ammunition depots of the Ukrainian army, it said. Russian air defenses destroy 147 Ukrainian UAVs, four Tochka-U missiles over past day Russian air defense forces shot down 147 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and four Tochka-U ballistic missiles over the past day, the ministry reported. "During the last 24-hour period, air defense capabilities shot down four Tochka-U tactical missiles, two French-made Hammer guided aerial bombs, three US-made HIMARS rockets and 147 unmanned aerial vehicles, including 119 UAVs outside the area of the special military operation," the ministry said. Overall, the Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 638 Ukrainian warplanes, 279 helicopters, 29,970 unmanned aerial vehicles, 569 surface-to-air missile systems, 17,057 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,400 multiple rocket launchers, 13,229 field artillery guns and mortars and 24,715 special military motor vehicles since the start of the special military operation, the ministry reported. (Part Four, The End) #business #finance #financialservices

British Army successfully tests high-powered laser weapon on vehicle for the first time A major leap forward in laser defense technology The British Army has taken a significant step towards the future of warfare with the successful test firing of a high-powered laser weapon system mounted on a combat vehicle. This groundbreaking achievement, a collaboration between Dstl, DE&S, and industry, represents a major leap forward in the UK Ministry of Defence's Land Laser Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW) Demonstrator program. The lightweight, portable laser weapon system is the first of its kind to be integrated and fired from a land vehicle in the UK. This innovative technology offers a precise, powerful, and cost-effective way to neutralize threats at distances exceeding 1km, including enemy drones. Key benefits: > Lightweight, portable, and easy to operate > Faster than light engagement > Low cost > Effective against evolving threats > Integrates with existing battle management systems This successful trial paves the way for further testing with Army personnel later this year. The Ministry of Defence and the British Army will be able to assess the real-world capabilities and benefits of this potentially game-changing technology. https://lnkd.in/eNXkNTvY #FutureofWarfare #LaserDefense #BritishArmy #PhotonicSpots #PhotonicsTimes

The #Ukrainian military first published footage of the #Vampire anti-aircraft system, which was transferred by the United States last year. The video was published by the press service of the Ukrainian Navy. On February 11, the Ukrainian Navy press service published footage of the repelling of a Russian air attack, during which one of the units of naval forces shot down a Shahed-136 drone using the “latest anti-aircraft missile system.” The video shows an image from the optical guidance sensor, which was displayed on the control panel of the system and the process of targeting a missile at the target. The anti-aircraft system itself is not called in the message, but the rather unusual principle of targeting an anti-aircraft missile at a laser beam and a specific interface allow us to conclude that the video is footage of the Vampire #SAM from L3Harris. Vampire is a mobile anti-aircraft system using modified APKWS 70mm rockets with a laser guidance system. This system was designed specifically for Ukraine to detect and intercept enemy drones, in particular Shahed-136. In December last year, the United States completed the transfer of all 14 contracted systems. For the first time, the United States Department of Defense announced the start of their engagement in Ukraine on September 1, 2023. However, the video shown above is actually the first evidence of its use in combat conditions. Vampire The Vampire mobile system is a relatively new development. Its field tests began in 2021 and in the summer of 2022 the company continued testing the firing range and the overall reliability of the systems. The anti-aircraft system’s guided armament system integrates the WESCAM MX-10 optical-electronic sensor with thermal imaging and television cameras, responsible for target detection and guidance and launcher of four 70mm guided missiles. https://lnkd.in/dRUcv4ir

New UAV Electronic Warfare Capability Targets Enemy Air Defense Systems >> https://hubs.la/Q02TMKvm0 Leonardo has launched BriteStorm, a UAV-installed electronic warfare system enabling armed forces to penetrate enemy air defense networks, even those protected by modern Integrated Air Defense Systems (IADS). BriteStorm works by using Leonardo’s mission-tested DRFM technology to detect and evaluate the electronic warfare threat environment and then choose the most relevant countermeasure technique. Depending on the situation, BriteStorm’s effects can range from barraging the enemy system with electronic noise to more sophisticated techniques such as creating dozens of realistic ‘ghost’ fighter jet signatures, confusing and misdirecting the enemy response. #tech #systems #future Leonardo

Pantsir-S hits UAV in border area of Kursk Region "As a result of competent actions by the crews, the Ukrainian attack drone was engaged and destroyed," the Russian Defense Ministry said MOSCOW, October 3/ The Pantsir-S antiaircraft missile and artillery system has destroyed a Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle over a border area of the Kursk Region, the Russian Defense Ministry has said. "While on combat duty, Pantsir-S crews detected an aerial target identified as an attack unmanned aerial vehicle. As a result of competent actions by the crews, the Ukrainian attack drone was engaged and destroyed," the Defense Ministry said. Pantsir-S systems control the airspace above the positions of Russian troops round the clock. Each system has 12 anti-aircraft missiles. In addition, there are two double-barrel 30 mm cannons and 1,400 rounds of ammunition. Pantsir-S crews constantly change positions. Upon arrival at a new location, they are able to switch from standby to combat mode in 10 seconds. #business #finance #financialservices

Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr strikes four Ukrainian brigades over past day Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr struck four Ukrainian army brigades and inflicted roughly 90 casualties on enemy troops over the past day, the ministry reported. "Battlegroup Dnepr units inflicted casualties on formations of the Ukrainian army’s 117th mechanized, 128th mountain assault, 121st and 124th territorial defense brigades in areas near the settlements of Orekhov and Pyatikhatki in the Zaporozhye Region, Osokorovka, Tokarevka and Antonovka in the Kherson Region," the ministry said. The Ukrainian army’s losses in that frontline area over the past 24 hours amounted to 90 personnel, five motor vehicles, a US-made 155mm M777 howitzer and a field ammunition depot, it specified. Russian air defenses destroy 61 Ukrainian UAVs, 14 HIMARS rockets over past day Russian air defense forces shot down 61 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and 14 rockets of the US-made HIMARS multiple launch rocket system over the past day, the ministry reported. "During the last 24-hour period, air defense capabilities shot down a US-made ATACMS operational-tactical missile, 14 US-made HIMARS rockets and 61 unmanned aerial vehicles," the ministry said. Overall, the Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 631 Ukrainian warplanes, 278 helicopters, 28,795 unmanned aerial vehicles, 559 surface-to-air missile systems, 16,734 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,395 multiple rocket launchers, 12,666 field artillery guns and mortars and 24,250 special military motor vehicles since the start of the special military operation, the ministry reported. (Part Five, The End) #business #finance #financialservices

With its state-of-the-art technology, KNDS has always been able to adapt to the operational needs of its customers with combat proven and modular systems. Today, KNDS reveals the three steps of its MBT strategy. KNDS is exploiting the current extended and expanding European LEOPARD customer base. The latest version of the LEOPARD 2 A8 is characterized by maximum protection, best reconnaissance rate, state-of-the-art communication equipment and maximum effectiveness on the battlefield. It is the successful result of cooperation with 22 user nations. KNDS is also presenting the Leclerc XLR. The upgrade to the XLR standard of the French Army’s Leclerc fleet is ongoing. This modernization of the Leclerc MBT for the French Army addresses immediate needs of protection and communication, while intermediate requirements will be tackled by the Leclerc Evolution from 2030 onwards. For the first time, KNDS showcases the two next steps of its MBT roadmap: the LEOPARD 2 A-RC 3.0 and the Leclerc Evolution. Both systems are under development, and they both integrate a modular turret which gun can be switched from 120 mm to 140mm ASCALON® gun. The Leclerc Evolution is equipped with a manned turret hosting a 120 mm ASCALON® gun, which can be easily retrofitted to higher calibers up to 140 mm. Introducing a new concept with four crew members that is adapted to the latest tactical situations, the Leclerc Evolution integrates a deputy commander crew station fitted in the chassis to manage an extensive sensors and effectors suite, such as the ARX 30 RCWS perfectly fitted for counter-UAV warfare and a loitering ammunition launcher. #military #defense #defence #militaryleak https://lnkd.in/gSYdaQiN

Russian forces wipe out Ukrainian S-300 radar over past day Russian forces destroyed a radar of a Ukrainian S-300 anti-aircraft missile system and struck enemy personnel and military hardware in 131 areas over the past day, the ministry reported. "Operational-tactical aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, missile troops and artillery of the Russian groupings of forces destroyed a radar station of an S-300 surface-to-air missile system and struck the Ukrainian army’s manpower and military equipment in 131 areas," the ministry said. Russian air defenses destroy 175 Ukrainian military drones over past day Russian air defense forces destroyed 175 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and shot down 21 rockets of the US-made HIMARS and Czech-made Vampire multiple launch rocket systems over the past day, the ministry reported. "During the last 24-hour period, air defense capabilities destroyed 175 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles and shot down 21 rockets of the HIMARS and Vampire multiple rocket launchers," the ministry said. In all, the Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 577 Ukrainian warplanes, 270 helicopters, 17,658 unmanned aerial vehicles, 489 surface-to-air missile systems, 15,642 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,256 multiple rocket launchers, 8,573 field artillery guns and mortars and 20,343 special military motor vehicles since the start of the special military operation, the ministry reported. (Part Three, The End) #business #finance #financialservices