Americas
According to sources and an Army document viewed by Defense News, the Brazilian Army has written out requirements for its next eight-wheel drive armoured reconnaissance vehicle, after authorization for the service to buy up to 221 of the platforms, each armed with a 105mm or 120mm gun. The VBC Cav-MSR procurement attempt will take the role of the VBR-MR programme. The Army’s General Staff is currently waiting for permission to publish the rules and schedule for industry bids.
According to Jane’s, Information and network technology specialists at the US Department of Defense (DoD) want to evaluate potential solutions to meet multi-input, multi-output (MIMO) requirements for on-the-move tactical communication networks. Industry submissions for the distributed MIMO (D-MIMO) development effort are due to the department’s Research and Engineering directorate by the end of June, according to the request for sources (RFS) solicitation issued in April. The D-MIMO programme is part of a larger DoD-led advanced mobile communications development effort known as the Innovate Beyond 5G (IB5G) programme.
Middle East & Africa
NNS Kada, the Nigerian Navy’s new landing ship tank (LST 1314) has arrived Nigeria, on May 27 and is currently berth at its new home port in Apapa, Lagos. Kada was ordered from Damen Group in 2019 and built at Albwardy Damen shipyard in Sharjah, the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It was laid down in December 2019, launched in June 2021, and handed over to the NN in Sharjah on 30 March. The vessel departed for Nigeria on 1 April and prior to its arrival in Lagos, made stopovers in five countries: Angola (Luanda), Gabon (Port Gentil), Kenya (Mombasa), Oman (Port of Duqm), and South Africa (Cape Town).
Two previously unseen types of air-breathing missile were displayed during an event intended to showcase Iran’s unmanned aircraft capabilities on May 28. The missiles were seen in media coverage of a visit by Major General Mohammad Bagheri, chief of the general staff of the armed forces, to an underground facility identified as Strategic Base 313, which is operated by Iran’s regular military rather than the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), where he inspected dozens of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Europe
Finland will initially bed down its F-35As at Rovaniemi airport in 2026, the country declared on May 26. It is Finland’s most northern air base and lies within the Arctic Circle. The country ordered 64 F-35As and will be operational with the aircraft by 2030.
Asia-Pacific
South Korea’s Defense Project Promotion Committee has approved a $605 million project to buy PAC-3 missile interceptors and upgrade its existing PAC-2 launchers so that it can launch the PAC-3 missiles. Seoul will also spend $783 million to develop a mine-sweeping helicopter.
Today’s Video
WATCH: Patriot Missile Defense System Overview
