U.S. Army procures 600 Coyote 2C Interceptors

In a move echoing the urgency exposed by the recent attack on U.S. forces in Jordan, the U.S. Army awarded a $75 million contract to RTX Corporation on Jan. 16 for the production of 600 Coyote 2C Interceptors. This swift action, leveraging the Office of the Secretary of Defense’s rapid acquisition authority and completed within 30 days, underscores the critical need to strengthen counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) capabilities following the tragic loss of three American soldiers on Jan. 28.

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Pressure mounts on Australia to send MRH-90 helicopters to Ukraine

Ukrainian officials and community members are intensifying their pressure on the Australian government to reconsider its decision to scrap its retired Taipan helicopters instead of sending them to war-torn Ukraine. The controversy centers on the fate of 45 MRH-90s, grounded after a fatal crash in July 2023 and slated for dismantling and burial.

Australian Army (A40-003) NHI MRH-(cropped)
Bidgee, CC BY-SA 3.0 AU, via Wikimedia Commons

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U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground conducts comprehensive testing of SPIKE missile from AH-64

In a series of rigorous tests spanning five days, the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) played host to the evaluation of the cutting-edge SPIKE missile, launched from the formidable AH-64 Apache attack helicopter. The trials, conducted in various scenarios, showcased the missile’s versatility and resilience across different operational conditions.

A primary responsibility of U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) is to support developmental testing to improve existing weapons systems, even on platforms considered the most lethal of their kind. A recent example of this is testing in support of an airworthiness release that will allow the Spike non-line of site missile to be integrated into the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter. Over the course of five days in December 2023, testers fired eight full-up rounds in a variety of test scenarios: day and night shots, against both moving and static targets such as a mock SA-22 and a real Dodge Dakota truck, at different distances, from hovers close up to more than 30 kilometers away.

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