UK releases Strategic Defence Review
The UK has released the results of its long-awaited Strategic Defence Review which was begun last year. The UK Government has committed itself to spending 2.5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2027, rising to 3% ‘in the next parliament’. In 2024/25 it will spend about £56.4 billion ($117.5 billion). The results of the Review for…
Rafael to showcase IRON BEAM High-Energy Lasers at the Paris Air Show
Following the announcement of successful missile and rocket intercepts using Rafael’s laser systems, Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd will unveil its newly developed IRON BEAM laser director alongside its full family of High-Energy Laser Weapon Systems (HELWS) at the Paris Air Show later this month. Rafael’s HELWS family was developed in collaboration with…
Australia signs long-range precision strike missile agreement with the United States
The Australian Government has taken the next step towards increasing the ADF’s long-range strike capabilities and supporting domestic defence industry with the establishment of a new cooperative program with the United States for the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) which has a range of some 500km. Australia and the United States have signed a Memorandum of…
US Army designates FLRAA rotorcraft as MV-75
The US Army has officially designated its Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) as the MV-75, to be manufactured by Bell Textron. This is a key modernisation effort aimed at fielding the next generation of vertical lift tactical assault and utility aircraft for the Army and US Special Operations Command. A common legacy name for…
Israel uses High-Power Lasers to intercept inbound threats
For the first time ever, troops from the Israeli Air Force (IAF) have used High-Power Laser (HPL) systems to intercept ‘scores’ of enemy aerial threats. In partnership with the IAF and Israeli Ministry of Defense’s (IMOD) Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDR&D), Rafael Advanced Defense Systems has executed an accelerated development program to deploy…
UK MoD conducts largest ever UK AI trial with US and Australian participation
The UK Ministry of Defence (UK MoD) has conducted the UK’s largest-ever multi-domain AI trial, bringing together land, sea and air equipment. The trial provided valuable data to develop and validate AI algorithms, says the Department, and strengthens the UK’s position as a leader in defence innovation, supporting the government’s Plan for Change. “We can all…