Americas
Northrop Grumman unveiled a turbojet-powered precision strike missile last week. The multi-purpose Jackal missile can accommodate both lethal and nonlethal payloads for a range of functions such as electronic warfare and ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance). It combines range, speed, endurance, precision, and payload capability, enabling extended duration ISR missions to gather critical information before launching a lethal strike.
Defense News reports, that the Brazilian Army announced its decision to buy howitzers from Israel’s Elbit Systems, the project remains suspended over Brazilian President Inazio “Lula” da Silva’s criticism of Israel’s actions against Hamas in Gaza. According to military sources in Brasilia, who spoke to Defense News on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, the project remains “frozen” but not formally canceled.
Middle east & Africa
Israel-based SpearUAV recently unveiled the latest in its Viper family of loitering munitions designed to protect land vehicles and installations from top-attack weapons. It is designed to neutralize a variety of aerial threats such as strike drones and loitering munitions. The VIPER I (Interceptor) features a modular design that allows integration of third party sensors and warheads for precise detection, verification, and neutralization of threats.
Europe
The State Department approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of the Netherlands of Radio Equipment and related equipment for an estimated cost of $1.42 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today. The Government of the Netherlands has requested to buy the following non-Major Defense Equipment items: AN/PRC-117G radios; AN/PRC-152A radios; AN/PRC-160 radios; AN/PRC-163 radios; AN/PRC-167 radios; tactical key loaders; network encryptors; Government and contractor technical assistance; spares; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is $1.42 billion.
Asia-Pacific
The South Korean military is reconsidering the purchase of 36 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters from the United States. The potential deal, which the Defense Security Cooperation Agency approved in August for an estimated cost of $3.5 billion, has come under scrutiny due to several factors. One primary concern is the Apache’s vulnerability to new threats, such as drones and portable missile systems, as highlighted by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The war has exposed the susceptibility of attack helicopters to these readily available weapons, raising questions about their effectiveness in modern warfare.