A Temsah-3 on display at the SOFEX show held in Jordan in November 2022. (Janes/Jeremy Binnie)  The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced the approval of two Egyptian requests on 10 January: one covering chassis and engines for light tactical vehicles and the other for additional 28 m coastal patrol craft.  It said the REV1-B Rolling Chassis, which is used for the Humvee series, and 205 hp turbocharged engines will be supplied by AM General. It did not say how many Egypt has requested but estimated the proposed sale to be wo...

The Lithuanian MND completed the purchase of Boxer IFVs at the end of 2023. (Lithuanian MND/SFC A Čemerka)  The Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence (MND) announced in a press release on 12 January that it had completed the procurement of Boxer infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) at the end of 2023, with the acquisition of a total of 89 vehicles and two prototypes.  The completion of this first phase of Lithuania's Boxer programme was delayed from mid-2023. Explaining the cause of the delay, an MND spokesperson told Janes, “Testing of the la...

A photograph released on 10 January 2024 shows a Rafael SPYDER All in One air-defence system launching a Python missile in a test. (Rafael Advanced Defense Systems)  Rafael and the Israel Ministry of Defense's (MoD's) Directorate for Defense Research and Development have completed a successful test of the All in One (AiO) variant of the company's SPYDER air-defence system, it was announced on 10 January.  Carried out in December 2023, the test included the interception of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) “in a challenging operational scenario...

The Defence Research and Development Organisation has developed a new 7.62×51 mm assault rifle known as ‘Ugram' for the Indian Army. (Defence Research and Development Organisation/Janes)  India's state-run Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) subsidiary Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) has developed a new 7.62×51 mm assault rifle known as ‘Ugram' for the Indian Army, an ARDE spokesperson told Janes on 9 January.  The rifle can strike at a maximum range of 500 m and is developed in collaboration with Hyder...

Poland's first company of 14 M1A1 tanks arriving at Szczecin on 28 June 2023. (Polish MND)  The Polish Armament Agency announced in a press release that a US shipment of 29 more M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks (MBTs) and 79 Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected (MRAP) All-Terrain Vehicles (M-ATVs) arrived at the Polish Port of Świnoujście on 6 January, followed two days later by the unloading of the vessel.  The delivery followed an earlier US shipment that also arrived at Świnoujście on 21 November 2023 with 26 M1A1s and nine M88A2 Hercules armoured...

The ECDI has delivered the Piorun to the EDF (photo of Lt Col Lelov holding the MANPADS). (ECDI/Kermo Pastarus)  The Estonian Centre for Defence Investments (ECDI) announced in a press release on 8 January that it had delivered Polish Piorun short-range manportable air defence systems (MANPADS) to the Estonian Defence Forces (EDF).  An ECDI spokesperson told Janes on 9 January that deliveries were ongoing from 2023 to 2025 but would not disclose numbers. He said training mainly for reservists had begun in mid-2023 as part of the planned deliv...

The Indian Army seeks to equip its in-service BMP-2 ICVs (pictured above) taking part in an Indian Army exercise – with TI-based DNS to improve their night-fighting capability. (Janes/Kapil Kajal)  The Indian Army has outlined the detailed requirements supporting its acquisition of thermal imager (TI)-based driver night sights (DNSs) for its in-service BMP-2/2K infantry combat vehicles (ICVs).  In a request for information (RFI) document issued by the army on 8 January, the service intends to procure approximately 2,500 TI-based DNS for BMP-...

A news broadcast with file footage of North Korea's artillery firing, at a railway station in Seoul on 5 January 2024. North Korea fired more than 200 artillery shells near two South Korean islands that day, said the South Korean government. (Jung Yeon-je /AFP via Getty Images)  North Korea fired more than 200 artillery shells into waters near the Seoul-controlled Baengnyeong and Yeonpyeong islands early on 5 January, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) spokesperson Colonel Lee Sung-jun disclosed in a statement to reporters on the same...

The 120 mm guided mortar round that was recovered in North Kivu province in the DRC in June 2023. (United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo via the United Nations Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of Congo)  Sophisticated guided mortar rounds are being used to attack the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) in the eastern province of North Kivu, according to the latest report from the United Nations Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)...

Finland has ordered 13 more Sisu GTP 4×4 off-road vehicles in addition to the 31 it is already procuring. (Sisu Auto)  Finnish Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen has authorised the Finnish Defence Forces (FDF) to order 13 more Sisu GTP 4×4 off-road vehicles worth EUR9.7 million (USD10.6 million), the defence ministry announced in a press release on 27 December.  This is in addition to the 31 Sisu GTPs sold to the FDF in 2020 and 2022. The FDF signed a contract with Sisu Auto in June 2020 for six GTP 4×4 vehicles for trials to assess mobility...

Finland has exercised part of the option to order 40 more 6×6 CAVS vehicles under the agreement for 91 vehicles signed by the Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command and Patria in June 2023. (Patria)  The Finnish Defence Forces (FDF) is procuring 40 more 6×6 Common Armoured Vehicle Systems (CAVS), prime contractor Patria announced in a press release on 4 January. The FDF was exercising part of the option for 70 vehicles in the agreement for 91 vehicles signed by the FDF Logistics Command and Patria in June 2023.  CAVS production and deliveri...

The NSPA ordered up to 1,000 PAC-2 GEM-Ts from COMLOG on 3 January for Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, and Spain (photo of German Patriots deployed to Sliač Air Base in Slovakia in March 2022). (Janes/Nicholas Fiorenza)  The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) has ordered up to 1,000 Patriot Advanced Capability-2 (PAC-2) Guidance Enhanced Missiles-Tactical (GEM-Ts) from MBDA-Raytheon joint venture COMLOG for Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, and Spain, the NSPA and COMLOG announced in a joint press release on 3 January. In addition...

Lithuania acquires Thales GM200 MM/C radar systems in a deal with the Netherlands Ministry of Defence. (Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of Lithuania)  Lithuania has acquired new Thales Ground Master 200 Multi-Mission Compact radars (GM200 MM/C) to strengthen its artillery capabilities.  The deal, struck between the Lithuanian and Netherlands ministries of defence, is valued at EUR126.7 million (USD138.6 million) for an undisclosed number of GM200 MM/C radar systems, the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence (MND) announced on 3...

A news broadcast with file footage of North Korea's artillery firing, at a railway station in Seoul on 5 January 2024. North Korea fired more than 200 artillery shells near two South Korean islands that day, said the South Korean government. (Jung Yeon-je /AFP via Getty Images)  North Korea fired more than 200 artillery shells into waters near the Seoul-controlled Baengnyeong and Yeonpyeong islands early on 5 January, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) spokesperson Colonel Lee Sung-jun disclosed in a statement to reporters on the same...

The Lithuanian MND has completed the first phase of the procurement of JLTVs, with the delivery on 29 December 2023 of the last 50 of the first 200 vehicles ordered in 2019. (Lithuanian MND)  The Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence (MND) announced on 30 December 2023 that it had completed the first phase of the procurement of Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs), with the delivery of the last 50 of the first 200 vehicles the day before.  The ministry signed a first contract with the US government for 200 JLTVs in 2019 and a second one fo...

The PCP001 vehicles are based on a modified 4×4 Dongfeng EQ2050 vehicle (pictured above) fitted with an 82 mm rapid-deployment automatic mortar system. (Dongfeng Motor Corporation)  The People's Liberation Army's (PLA's) Hong Kong Garrison has received at least 13 new 4×4 armoured vehicles, according to video footage released by Chinese state-owned broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) in early January.  The CCTV footage showed six Dongfeng Mengshi CSK181 armoured vehicles, four PCP001 fire-support vehicles, two Red Arrow 10 launch vehi...

Poland has ordered 12 new command vehicles from Polish manufacturer Rosomak to support its 250 M1A2 Abrams SEPv3 MBTs. (Polish Armaments Agency)  Poland has ordered 12 new command vehicles based on the Rosomak wheeled armoured personnel carrier (APC) to support its 250 M1A2 Abrams SEPv3 main battle tanks (MBTs).  The command vehicles will be used at the battalion level and will be equipped with internal communication subsystems and other basic communication equipment to ensure the secure exchange of classified information, the Polish Armament...

Mass production of Aselsan's new electro-optical reconnaissance, surveillance, and targeting system, ASELFLIR-500, has begun and it is expected to be integrated onboard the Bayraktar TB3 unmanned combat aerial vehicle and the TCG   Anadolu  multi-purpose amphibious assault ship.  (Janes/Olivia Savage)  Aselsan's latest electro-optical systems – ASELFLIR-500, DORUK-2, and TULGAR – achieved important production and delivery milestones in 2023.  According to Aselsan's General Manager Ahmet Akyol on 31 December, the...

Finland has ordered 13 more Sisu GTP 4×4 off-road vehicles in addition to the 31 it is already procuring. (Sisu Auto)  Finnish Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen has authorised the Finnish Defence Forces (FDF) to order 13 more Sisu GTP 4×4 off-road vehicles worth EUR9.7 million (USD10.6 million), the defence ministry announced in a press release on 27 December.  This is in addition to the 31 Sisu GTPs sold to the FDF in 2020 and 2022. The FDF signed a contract with Sisu Auto in June 2020 for six GTP 4×4 vehicles for trials to assess mobility...

The Armado LSV (pictured above) is equipped with an in-service Global Positioning System (GPS), detachable and adjustable modular racks, an automatic grenade launcher, an electric winch, a high-frequency radio, and screen and window mesh protection. (MDSL)    The Indian Army has deployed an unknown number of 4×4 Light Specialist Vehicles (LSVs) known as Armado in the Rajouri-Poonch sector near the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan, Lieutenant Colonel Suneel Bartwal, the Indian Ministry of Defence's (MoD's) Public Relations Officer (PRO...