The Royal Netherlands Army is poised to significantly enhance its short-range air defence (SHORAD) capabilities with the acquisition of the National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS) and the National Manoeuvre Air Defence System (NOMADS) from Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace. This acquisition, valued at approximately $1 billion, is expected to commence deliveries in 2028 as part of the comprehensive integrated air and missile defence program known as CITADEL.
The German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) reached full operational capability with its new fleet of Thales-built Ground Alerter 10 (GA10) radars on Oct. 16, with the French defence contractor handing over the final system in a ceremony at Koblenz. Thales secured the initial contract from the German procurement agency, BAAINBw, in February 2021 for five systems, with options for additional units. These options were exercised, resulting in the final system being delivered on time and within budget.
Boeing’s Compact Laser Weapon System (CLWS) has engaged and neutralized Group 3 Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UASs) for the first time. This is a significant development in counter-drone technology as Group 3 UASs, which can weigh up to 1,320 pounds, present a greater threat due to their capacity to carry heavier and more sophisticated payloads. The successful demonstration took place at the Red Sands Integrated Experimentation Center in Saudi Arabia, where the CLWS, equipped with a 5-kilowatt laser, effectively neutralized the Group 3 drones.
In the high-stakes world of air defense, Anduril Industries has just raised the bar—and secured a quarter-billion dollar vote of confidence from the Department of Defense (DoD).
The Pentagon recently awarded Anduril a $249,978,466 contract to deliver next-generation air defense capabilities. The deal includes over 500 Roadrunner-M interceptors and additional Pulsar electronic warfare systems, aimed at countering the escalating threat of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) attacks on U.S. forces.
The U.S. State Department has approved a potential sale of four AN/MPQ-64 F1 Sentinel radar systems to Romania for an estimated cost of $110 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on Oct. 7. The potential sale also includes various support equipment, spare parts, training, and other logistical elements.
Sentinel radar operators with the 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, North Dakota Army National Guard participate in the Global Information Dominance Experiment 3 and Architecture and Demonstration Evaluation 5 in Camp Grayling, Michigan, July 14, 2021. North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, NORAD and USNORTHCOM, in partnership with all 11 Combatant Commands, led the third in a series of Global Information Dominance Experiments designed to rapidly develop the capabilities required to increase deterrence options in competition and crisis through a data-centric software-based approach. GIDE events combine people and technology to innovate and accelerate system development for domain awareness, information dominance, decisional superiority, and global integration. The GIDE 3 experiment was executed in conjunction with the Department of the Air Force’s Chief Architect Office (DAF CAO) as part of their fifth Architecture Demonstration and Evaluation event (ADE 5), and the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center. (US Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Amy Picard) Continue reading “U.S. approves potential sale of Sentinel Radar Systems to Romania”
