Weapons

Photo Source: Clipart.com

So what is happening in the world of weapons worldwide? My last report was on ICBMs, this one is on everything else.

United States:

The Phalanx Gun System is a gun mounted on a ship that spits out a storm of 20 mm shells and is the last line of defense against a missile attack. The system is being upgraded and the contract was won by General Dynamics. The new Gatling gun system will be called the Phalanx CIWS.

The US Army is still using the M112 armored personnel carrier, also known as an APC. The vehicle has been in service since 1960 and there are now over 80,000 of them that have been constantly upgraded and overhauled. They are also being exported. The U.S. Army is holding a demonstration of launching Surface Launched Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missiles from their equipment that they already have, known as High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems. The U.S. army is also pushing for the use of electric vehicles. They want to lease over 4,000 of these vehicles for varied uses.

In an anti-missile test, the U.S. successfully intercepted a ballistic missile that was launched from Alaska. The test used sensors on the ground, in space and on the sea. The data was compiled and a single target track was created. Would this test have been as successful if the missile had been carrying jamming equipment as well?

The U.S. Navy received the first of its newly converted aircraft. They were converted by L-3 Communications Integrated Systems and put into Surge Configuration. The navy said that they now have a multi-intelligence capability that is better suited to current operations.

The United States has added additional requests to its specs for a new combat search and rescue helicopter known as the CSAR-X. We claim that the changes are only minor.

It is being said that the U.S. LFAS systems that detect submarines have improved to the point where there is no safe place for them to hide. I am not so sure about this claim.

I find it amazing that companies that disregarded our export rules and shipped secret technology to China, Russia, Israel, Pakistan, Egypt and other middle eastern countries, over 160 times, are only being fined. It makes one wonder if they are still doing this? Hey where is the jail time?

United Kingdom:

The Royal Navy in Britain is preparing for its second test firing of its new anti-air missile system. The new British Type 45 destroyers will deploy the anti-air missiles. The current name for the system is Sea Viper.

The HMS Montrose will be the first British ship to receive the latest Outfit DNA command suite. The Montrose is a Type 23 frigate. The new suite is from off the shelf parts.

Britain is getting modular countermeasures pods for its Tornado GR-4 attack aircraft from Denmark. It was needed to help the Tornado aircraft to survive against modern infrared guided missiles.

India:

India is steadily improving its coast guard. It has just added its second large offshore patrol vessel. The ship weighs in at 2,250 tons. In a different vein, India admits that the BrahMos surface to surface missile test was a failure. The missile had been modified to make it more intelligent, but had experienced what were called glitches. The idea was for the missile to be able to pick out the best target in a multi-target environment. India has decided that it will buy radar stations from Israel. This was prompted by the recent attack on Mumbai. The systems will be placed on the coast and have a range of about 300 miles.

India has signed its biggest deal for weapons from the United States. The order is worth about 2.1 billion dollars and is for eight Boeing P-81 Poseidon multimission maritime reconnaissance aircraft. These are known as MRA. The craft will have anti-submarine capability. The first plane will be delivered by 2012 and the last by 2016.

Pakistan:

Pakistan has asked China's help in constructing two naval shipyards and modernizing a third.

China:

China is putting its new AR2 multiple-launch rocket system on the market. It is a 12 round, 300 mm system. It is said to resemble the earlier 10 round systems and also is similar to the Russian Spav 300 mm BM 9A52.

France:

Remember the Falkland war and the British ship that was hit with an Exocet missile? The French are upgrading 45 of their Exocet missile carrying ships to Block 3 from Block 2. One difference in the missile is it will no longer be powered by a solid propellant, but by an air breathing turbojet. This will increase the missile's range from about 4.4 miles to almost 11 miles.

The aircraft carrier Charles de Galle has been refitted and is returning to sea. Its nuclear reactors have been refueled. The turbines have also been overhauled and the flight deck resurfaced.

Russia:

Russia is planning to transfer its Naval Headquarters from Moscow to St. Petersburg. The first moves will be made at the end of the year.

Russia is improving the capability of its ZU-23 light anti-aircraft gun. They want it to be more effective against fast targets. The gun will now include a trailer mounted surface-to-air missile system along with improvements to the actual gun and mount.

Serbia:

Serbia has completed the construction of a new armored vehicle called the Lazar. It will be used by the Serbians and also sold for export. It has an all welded steel armor with appliqué armor added for better protection.

Argentina:

Argentina has just canceled its light tank project, but is looking to upgrade its medium tank, with a new electronic fire control and turret control system. Presently the tank is using an electrohydraulic control system.

Israel:

Israeli special forces are taking delivery of a the new Micro Tavor rifle. The rifle is a 5.56 mm/9x19 mm MTAR-21 short, that is made in Israel. The rifle can also be converted to a 9X19 submachine gun.

Poland:

Poland has put in an order for Norway's Krongsberg Defense & Aerospace Naval Strike Missile. The order is worth about 145 million U.S. dollars. The missiles are dual role all weather missiles that have a range of 120 miles.

Misc:

It is turning out that not only are pilotless planes getting a lot of use in Iraq and Afghanistan but so are unmanned ground vehicles.

The Eurocopter Tiger has passed its final trials. So far France and Germany will be using them.