Americas
Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $214-million contract for the continued upgrade of M270 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS) into the latest A2 configuration. Work will take place in Texas and Arkansas, with an estimated completion date of December 30, 2030. Apart from the US Army, the upgrade has been funded by the UK, Finland, and Italy. The US Army wants to upgrade 225 existing M270A1 and 160 decommissioned M270A0 launchers to the A2 standard, extending their service life for another 30 years.
Dragoon Technology has selected Teledyne FLIR OEM’s Prism Supervisor and Prism SKR software for its long-range unmanned platform prototypes. The software will support artificial intelligence (AI)-based object detection, tracking, real-time autonomous flight control, and mission planning.
Middle East & Africa
The US State Department has approved the possible sale of Javelin anti-tank missile systems to Estonia, with an estimated cost of $296 million, the Pentagon announced Thursday. The primary partner in the deal on the U.S. side is the Javelin Joint Venture, a consortium comprising RTX Corp and Lockheed Martin. The Javelin is a portable anti-tank missile system developed in the United States, primarily designed to destroy armored vehicles and tanks. Its effective range is between two and 2.5 kilometers.
Europe
Germany will keep supplying weapons to Israel despite its intensified offensive in Gaza that has sparked international outcry, the foreign minister said on Monday, snubbing Spanish calls for an embargo. “As a country that understands Israel’s security and existence as a core principle, Germany is always obliged to assist Israel in guaranteeing its security,” Johann Wadephul told a joint press conference in Madrid alongside Spanish counterpart Jose Manuel Albares. “That naturally includes being willing to supply weapons in the future,” said Wadephul, citing Germany’s unique responsibility towards Israel after the Holocaust.
Asia-Pacific
Japan Steel Works will begin assembling Patria AMV XP 8×8 armored vehicles in Japan from September, following their selection in 2022 to replace the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s aging Type-96 personnel carriers. A licensing agreement for local production was signed between Japan Steel Works and Finnish defense firm Patria in July 2023.