US officials are asking the war-torn nation to clearly outline its combat objectives for requesting expanded use of US-supplied long-range missiles.

Ukraine has stated that it plans to use the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), which has a range of 300 kilometers (186 miles), to strike Russian airfields, command centers, and weapons depots deep in enemy territory.

President Joe Biden’s administration currently allows Kyiv to use the weapon only for strikes within Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine.

US officials remain skeptical that lifting the restrictions would have a significant impact on the war, noting that it may also come with greater risks.

Growing Pressure

The US has been facing increasing pressure from NATO allies to allow Kyiv greater freedom to hit targets inside Russia to level the battlefield.

Moscow’s forces have been using long-range aircraft, missiles, and drones to attack Ukraine, quickly gaining the upper hand in the ongoing war.

Washington has expressed concerns that doing so would further escalate the war and allow Russia to reverse-engineer some of America’s most sophisticated weapons.

It has also argued that the Ukrainian military is already using long-range drones to strike deep into Russia, which is a cheaper and more strategic method than firing costly missiles.

Additionally, the White House downplayed the capabilities of its ATACMS, stating they would be ineffective now because Moscow has likely moved its most immediate threats to facilities beyond the missile’s range.

“I don’t believe one capability is going to be decisive, and I stand by that comment,” US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin affirmed.

Russian Warning

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that any strikes using Western weapons deep inside its territory will lead to a significant change in the nature of the conflict.

He said such a move would be viewed as an escalation of the war, making the US and its NATO allies directly involved.

“And if this is so, then, bearing in mind the change in the very essence of this conflict, we will make appropriate decisions based on the threats that will be created for us,” Putin told reporters.

The post US Seeks Clarity From Ukraine on Expanded Use of Long-Range Weapons appeared first on The Defense Post.

The country’s air force department head Col. Hovhannes Vardanyan discussed possible areas of cooperation with Indian Armed Forces Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Anil Chauhan at the International Defence Aviation Exposition 2024 in Jodhpur in early September. 

“We are looking at modernising our Su-30s with the help of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited as it has a lot of expertise in the field,” Vardanyan told Hindustan Times.

Though the talks are still in the early stages, an unnamed source from India’s defense ministry informed The Print that Yerevan was looking to upgrade their Su-30s and integrate Indian-made weapons, including guided air-to-surface munitions.

The source noted that first addressing missile export protocols and the regional conflict surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh is crucial.

Tensions in the South Caucasus

Armenia and Azerbaijan, both former Soviet republics, have been engaged in a long-standing territorial dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh that has resulted in significant civilian displacement.

Russia acted as a broker for ceasefires and deployed peacekeepers in affected areas.

In the two countries’ 44-day war in 2020, Baku launched a military offensive that was backed by Turkey and also reportedly by Pakistan. 

Meanwhile, Yerevan failed to deploy its four Su-30s bought from Moscow due to their lack of firepower, which significantly contributed to Baku’s ability to regain control over the region. 

The results of this loss, coupled with the landlocked country’s frustrations with delayed Russian imports, prompted its push to diversify its defense partnerships.

India looked to supply arms to Armenia to boost its growing self-reliant defense industry and counterbalance Turkey and Pakistan’s influence in the region.

Since 2020, they have enhanced their military relationship through various arms agreements and announced plans to appoint defense attachés in each other’s countries. 

In the same year, Armenia signed a $40-million defense deal and a $2-billion military partnership with India that included provisions for various Indian-made weapon systems.

Among various munitions supplied recently, India sold its first indigenously designed Pinaka Multiple-Barrel Rocket Launchers to Armenia for around $265 million, facilitated through transfers via Iran. 

“The former Soviet Republic of Armenia has become the largest importer of weapons from India after concluding deals on the purchase of Pinaka multiple-launch rocket systems and Akash anti-aircraft systems,” according to an Indian Finance Ministry report. 

Azerbaijan’s Concerns

In July 2023, the assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Department Hikmat Hajiyev urged Indian Ambassador Sridharan Madhusudhanan to reconsider how their actions may contribute to Armenia’s militarization and impact ongoing peace negotiations between the two South Caucasus nations.

Hajiyev emphasized that India’s arms supply contradicts its stated foreign policy principles grounded in international law and the Bandung Principles of the Non-Aligned Movement, of which the South Asian country is a member.

In response, Madhusudhanan acknowledged Hajiyev’s concerns while underscoring the necessity for dialogue among involved parties.

The post Armenia Seeks India’s Support to Modernize Air Force: Report appeared first on The Defense Post.

If approved by the parliament, the procurement will expand the Italian Air Force’s F-35 fleet to 115.

Also included is the purchase of engines, equipment and logistics support until 2035, il Giornale reported, citing a defense budget document.

Italian F-35 Fleet

A total of 90 F-35s are already on order by Rome, including 60 conventional takeoff F-35As for the Italian Air Force and 15 short takeoff vertical landing F-35Bs each for the Italian Air Force and the Italian Navy. 

The additional batch includes 15 F-35As for the Italian Air Force and five F-35Bs each for the two services.

The overall defense procurement of 9.3 billion euros ($10.3 billion) includes an investment of 506 million euros ($563 million) for the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), an increase over the 271 million euros ($301 million) invested in 2023, according to Defense News.

The GCAP is a next-generation fighter jet program, comprising Italy, the UK, and Japan.

Additional Spending

Additionally, 50 million euros ($55 million) has been budgeted to adapt Italy’s new Landing Helicopter Dock, the Trieste, to host F-35Bs.

It also reveals that Italy has added 690 million euros ($767 million) to the ongoing Eurofighter program fund for the purchase of 24 fourth-tranche jets to replace 26 first-tranche aircraft, which are set to retire by 2029.

Overall, the country’s 2024 defense spending will increase to 20.85 billion euros ($23 billion), up from 19.56 billion euros ($22 billion) in 2023.

The post Italy to Buy 25 Additional F-35s for Over $7 Billion appeared first on The Defense Post.

The state-of-the-art facility in James City County, Virginia, will enhance the Norwegian firm’s production capability for Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) and Joint Strike Missiles (JSM).

More importantly, it will bring the capability to the US, including sustainment and tech refresh capabilities for the missiles.

“Kongsberg is investing in a big way in the US market by making Virginia the US home of our new missile factory, which will entail hiring more than 180 people,” president and general manager of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace Heather Armentrout said.

“We will also be investing more than $100 million into the Commonwealth of Virginia over the next few years, in terms of property, plant and equipment. 

“This is in addition to expansion at our core US production facility in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.”

Missile Production Expansion

This is the third missile facility Kongsberg announced in the last few months, including in Norway and Australia.

The decision is also in anticipation of a multiyear procurement contract by the US Department of Defense.

The NSM is an anti-ship missile operational with five navies, including the US Navy. 

The JSM is an air-launched cruise missile designed to fit into the F-35’s internal bay and perform complex missions such as anti-surface warfare and land attack. 

“The US Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force are important customers for Kongsberg’s Naval Strike Missile and Joint Strike Missile. Their demand signals gave us the predictability we needed to make this investment in the United States,” president of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace Eirik Lie said. 

“This will allow us to better serve our allies in the US and continue to expand that supply chain locally, building capacity and redundancy for these critical capabilities.”

Virginia Facility

The 150,000-square-foot (13,935 square meters) facility will be equipped to assemble, upgrade, and repair both the missiles.

The company expected to invest $71 million in the facility and an additional $30 million in engineering and software, Virginia Business stated, citing the office of the governor of Virginia.

The post Kongsberg to Produce NSM, JSM Missiles at Virginia Facility appeared first on The Defense Post.

The system reportedly detected and tracked the moving targets before firing AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles to complete the intercepts.

It also demonstrated its ability to operate with the Integrated Battle Command System and the Sentinel A3 air and missile defense radar to effectively neutralize the targets.

According to Leidos Vice President Dino Pusinsky, the test underscored the company’s commitment to helping the US Army stay ahead of adversaries.

It also “marks another major step forward in evaluating the overall operational capability and lethality” of the cutting-edge weapon system.

Indirect Fire Protection Capability

In September 2021, Leidos accepted a contract to develop a ground-based weapon system as part of the US Army’s Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC) Increment 2 program.

The weapon is envisioned as a key component of a layered solution for protecting critical civilian and military infrastructure.

Enduring Shield is designed to bridge the gap between the service’s tactical short-range air defense systems and the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system.

In December 2023, the weapon showcased its ability to fire an experimental AIM-9X missile interceptor for the first time.

Leidos is now conducting hardware upgrades to further mature the system as part of a new contract awarded by the US Army.

“We believe this award will let us showcase the ability of the IFPC Inc. 2 system to transform warfighting capabilities as it progresses toward being declared operationally ready for our warfighters,” company senior vice president Larry Barisciano said.

The post Leidos’ Enduring Shield Intercepts Drone, Cruise Missile in Flight Test appeared first on The Defense Post.

The test demonstrated wired end-burning technology for hypersonic applications that provides greater range than conventional rocket motors.

It also produced data supporting digital modeling and simulations that validated the motor’s design maturity and performance.

“This is a major milestone in proving the significant capability of this solid rocket motor,” Raytheon President of Advanced Technology Colin Whelan said.

“By leveraging industry collaboration, we were able to demonstrate that we can produce and meet requirements for challenging long-range fires kill chains.”

The firms leveraged their combined digital engineering expertise to speed the design and development in a digital environment using model-based systems engineering.

Testing took place at Northrop Grumman’s Allegany Ballistics Laboratory in West Virginia,

“We are excited to rapidly push the boundaries on next-generation propulsion technology and provide our customers with the ability to respond to evolving threats,” Northrop Grumman Weapon Systems VP Frank DeMauro said.

The post Raytheon, Northrop Test Solid Rocket Motor for Hypersonic Systems appeared first on The Defense Post.

The US State Department approved the estimated $600 million sale in July, a steep rise compared to the initial offer of $340 million extended to the previous Slovak government. 

The discount was in part due to the collapse of a deal with the initially envisioned recipient of the platforms, Pakistan.

Slovakia Eyes F-16s, Patriot

Slovakia was offered the copters along with AGM-114 Hellfire II air-to-ground missiles in March 2023 at a third of the original price as compensation for its donation of Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets and 2K12 Kub air defense systems to Ukraine.

The new Slovak government, however, prefers to acquire F-16s or a Patriot air defense system from the US, Defense News revealed, citing an unnamed industry official.

Moreover, Bratislava wants the platforms with the discount previously offered by the US on the Viper and Hellfire deal.

Ukraine Wants Aircraft Soon

The development has frustrated US officials, allowing Ukraine to intensify its efforts to get the Bell aircraft, which it has been wanting to acquire since 2022.

“We need these helicopters for our soldiers who are fighting on the frontline in the Ukrainian provinces of Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and other regions but also leading an operation in the Kursk region,” Defense News quoted Ukrainian lawmaker Vadym Ivchenko as saying.

Ivchenko wrote a letter to US lawmakers to convince the Biden administration to reroute the attack helicopters to Ukraine “as soon as possible.”

Moreover, Kyiv also intends to locally produce the aircraft.

“We wish to deepen our industrial cooperation with the United States to produce such helicopters in Ukraine,” Defense News quoted the lawmaker as saying. 

“This foreign investment would be guaranteed by the Ukrainian government.”

The post Ukraine Seeks Viper Attack Helicopters Turned Down by Slovakia  appeared first on The Defense Post.

Named the AGM-158 XR, the weapon appears to be substantially larger than its predecessors, enabling it to carry more fuel and a potential 1,000-pound (453-kilogram) armor-piercing warhead.

It also reportedly incorporates “smart” internal modifications to increase modularity and facilitate future upgrades.

While its exact strike range has not been disclosed, a Lockheed spokesperson indicated that the AGM-158 XR could exceed other JASSM and Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) variants.

It also maintains compatibility with F/A-18 and F-35 fighter jets.

Once operational, the weapon is expected to bolster the lethality of military units and increase pilot survivability by enabling strikes further away from the threat.

‘A Great Option to Consider’

Lockheed General Manager John Hill emphasized that the new weapon builds on proven production lines, established supply chains, and existing mission planning structures.

He also said the AGM-158 XR anticipates the needs of warfighters, making it “a great option” for the US Air Force to consider in the future.

The company clarified that the weapon is still in development and “several years out” from being ready for fielding.

However, it stated that initial flight testing could begin in one or two years.

“Lockheed Martin has developed the AGM-158 XR concept to offer significantly increased standoff attack range and be rapidly produced and delivered to the US military,” the firm noted.

Currently, the US Department of Defense has not yet committed to purchasing the new variant.

The post Lockheed Unveils ‘Extreme Range’ Variant of JASSM Cruise Missile appeared first on The Defense Post.

Denmark financed the procurement as part of an agreement that included direct purchases from Ukrainian defense manufacturers.

“This was the first agreement we concluded. In July, we placed an order (to Ukrainian manufacturers) for the production of 18 Bohdana artillery systems, and this weekend they were already handed over to the Ukrainian Armed Forces,” RBC-Ukraine quoted Poulsen as saying.

Danish Purchase of Ukrainian Weapons

Copenhagen allocated 200 million Danish kroner ($28.5 million) for the initiative in its 2.2 billion kroner ($313 million) military aid in April.

The Ukrainian defense industry produces far more than the state can purchase, necessitating external financing to close the gap.

According to Strategic Industries Minister Oleksandr Kamyshin, the industry’s annual output is worth $20 billion, while the state can purchase only $6 billion worth of defense products.

“This decision is extremely important for both the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the Ukrainian economy. The production capability of our defense industry far exceeds the purchasing power of the state budget,” Kyiv Independent quoted from a Ukrainian Strategic Industries Ministry statement.

Moreover, it is cheaper to produce at home than to buy from abroad and easier to maintain.

Ukrainian Wheeled Howitzer

The Bohdana prototype entered service in May 2022, most notably helping expel Russian forces from Snake Island.

Full-rate production commenced in January 2023, and by the end of the year, 30 platforms had been delivered to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The monthly rate of production reportedly reached 10 units by May 2024, and upgraded versions featuring the Tatra 815-7 8×8 chassis and autoloader were also introduced.

Features

The 155mm wheeled platform is crewed by five people and designed to operate with NATO-standard shells, a departure from the Soviet-era 152 mm rounds.

It has a maximum range of 42 kilometers (26 miles) with standard shells and 50 kilometers (31 miles) with rocket-assisted rounds and a rate of fire of five rounds per minute.

The eight-wheel artillery system weighs around 28 tons and features an armored cabin and a storage capacity of 20 rounds.

The post Ukraine Receives Locally-Produced Howitzers From Denmark appeared first on The Defense Post.

They are intended to replenish some of the over 300 Bradleys sent to Ukraine with an updated version.

“The Bradley Fighting Vehicle brings game-changing capabilities to the Army and our allied nations,” director of ground vehicle production for BAE Systems’ Combat Mission Systems business Dan Furber said.

“Because of the support for additional production of the modern Bradley A4 variant, this enduring capability continues to make a difference for troops all over the world, ensuring they have the firepower, mobility and survivability they need to achieve their missions.”

Bradley A4

The A4 retains the previous design for logistics reasons while enhancing its battlefield performance in a range of scenarios, including close-combat, urban warfare, and open-combat situations. 

It features new suspension and track upgrades, improving mobility, architecture, and power management, enabling the platform to host technologies such as the Active Protection System and communications technology.

Additionally, it features “the latest digitized electronics for optimum situational awareness, network connectivity and communication within the [Armored Brigade Combat Team].”

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