Thursday, April 17, 2025

ALL THE RIGHT STUFF: World Defence News

The United Kingdom has taken a step in countering drone threats with the successful testing of RapidDestroyer, a high-power microwave weapon developed by a consortium led by Thales. In a context marked by the rapid proliferation of low-cost, easily produced drones, as illustrated by the war in Ukraine, this technology aims to neutralize entire swarms at low cost by emitting radio waves that disrupt or destroy their electronic systems. The trials reported by the Financial Times, conducted by the UK Ministry of Defence in Wales, succeeded in neutralizing more than 100 drones, including two swarms of eight units each, confirming the effectiveness of a system that could reshape air defence priorities. Read more. 

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Denmark could become the first European nation to send troops to Ukraine to train its own military personnel in the use of combat drones on the battlefield. This initiative, reported on April 16, 2025, by Danish public broadcaster TV2, has sparked mixed reactions internationally and within Danish military institutions.

According to L'Opinion on April 12, 2025, Morocco formally expressed interest in acquiring South Korea’s K2 Black Panther main battle tank. The announcement came during a visit by Moroccan Minister of Industry and Trade, Ryad Mezzour, to Seoul, where he held high-level talks with South Korean officials, including Trade Minister An Deok-geun and Economic Diplomacy Coordinator Kim Hee-sang. According to an undisclosed source, Mezzour explicitly mentioned the K2 tank during meetings.

Italian shipbuilding giant Fincantieri and German defense company thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) have officially signed an industrial cooperation agreement to provide the Philippine Navy with advanced submarine capability solutions. Announced on April 16, 2025, this strategic partnership aims to merge the technological expertise and production experience of both companies to offer a comprehensive and modern submarine solution tailored for the needs of the Philippines.

The Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) is the U.S. Army’s next-generation surface-to-surface missile system, designed to deliver extended-range, high-precision firepower against high-value and time-sensitive targets in highly contested environments. Developed by Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, the PrSM is part of the Army’s top modernization priority under the Long Range Precision Fires (LRPF) initiative.

According to a video released by the Russian Ministry of Defense on April 16, 2025, Russian forces have intensified the use of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) configured as kamikaze platforms in their operations against Ukrainian positions. This marks a notable evolution in Russian battlefield tactics, as ground-based drones increasingly mirror the employment of first-person view (FPV) aerial drones in executing precision strike missions. Read News Russia - Ukraine War at this link ...

In a clear reflection of evolving battlefield dynamics, U.S. and German forces have intensified their focus on drone warfare during recent training exercises at the Grafenwoehr Training Area in Bavaria. The exercises, conducted on April 12, 2025, saw soldiers from the U.S. Army's 173rd Airborne Brigade and the German Armed Forces collaborate on operating short and medium-range reconnaissance drones, enhancing their readiness against near-peer adversaries.​ Read full Defense News at this link ...

On April 14, 2025, the Russian signals intelligence vessel Viktor Leonov (SSV-175), part of the Vishnya class, was detected transiting eastbound through the Strait of Gibraltar, entering the Mediterranean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean, as reported by @PeterFerrary on X. This movement marks a further step in the reinforcement of Russia’s naval presence in European waters, particularly near NATO member coastlines.

On April 12, 2025, Russia’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, Andrei Kelin, stated publicly that he does not deny the presence of Russian sensors in British waters allegedly used to track Royal Navy nuclear submarines.

On April 11, 2025, the U.S. Air Force announced the completion of exercise Giant Pace 25-1, a critical test of the airborne nuclear command and control system conducted by the 625th Strategic Operations Squadron (STOS), based at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. Assigned to the 95th Wing, this squadron plays a key role in the U.S.

As Australia navigates a crucial electoral campaign, an article published by Janes triggered a wave of concern in Canberra. The report alleged that Russia had formally requested permission from Indonesia to deploy long-range military aircraft at Manuhua Air Force Base, located on Biak Island in Indonesia’s Papua province.

As it prepares for a major deployment to the Indo-Pacific, the British Royal Navy is trialing the Malloy T-150 quadcopter drone aboard its flagship aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales. The integration of this heavy-lift unmanned system marks a practical shift in how the Navy handles logistics at sea, aiming to reduce the burden on expensive crewed helicopters by assigning routine resupply missions to drones. Read full Naval News at this link ...

As reported by Yonhap on April 15, 2025, the United Arab Emirates and South Korea held a joint air defense exercise on Emirati territory involving the South Korean Cheongung-II medium-range surface-to-air missile system. The activity marks the first publicly confirmed instance of operational integration of this system in a Middle Eastern setting.

On April 15, 2025, the U.S. Department of State approved a potential Foreign Military Sale to the Kingdom of Morocco involving 600 FIM-92K Stinger Block I surface-to-air missiles, with an estimated total value of $825 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has officially notified Congress of the proposed sale, in line with procedures governing arms exports to U.S. strategic partners. Read more. 

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According to information published by the Defense News website on April 14, 2025, the U.S. Army is set to significantly accelerate the development of its next-generation M1E3 Abrams main battle tank, aiming to field the new variant within 24 to 30 months—down from the originally forecasted timeline of over five years.

On April 10, 2025, the Swedish government submitted a proposal in its spring 2025 budget to authorize the government to enter into a bilateral agreement with Denmark for the sale of up to four S 106 GlobalEye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) systems and associated support equipment. The proposed transaction is intended to be conducted as a government-to-government sale in response to Denmark’s stated requirement to improve its airborne radar surveillance capabilities.

On April 15, 2025, the Russian military announced the launch of a series of military exercises near the Norwegian border, drawing the attention of regional observers. The Russian cruiser Marshal Ustinov, 186 meters in length, fired its AK-130 artillery system at land-based targets on the Rybachii Peninsula, located on the Barents Sea coast.

As drones have become central actors on the Ukrainian battlefield—used for precision strikes, reconnaissance missions, and harassment of enemy positions—Russia is continuing to modernize its BMD-4M airborne infantry fighting vehicle, as reported by Rostec on Telegram Channel.

On April 15, 2025, Lockheed Martin Europe announced the receipt of the first shipment of Patriot PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) launch tubes produced by Poland's Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze Nr. 1 (WZL-1), marking a significant milestone in the growing defense partnership between the United States and Poland. This achievement underscores not only the success of Poland’s defense modernization strategy but also its rising profile as a reliable partner in the global defense industry.

On March 31, 2025, Roy shared some information about the Mine Kafon Ball, a Dutch wind-powered device intended to detonate anti-personnel landmines as it moves across the ground. Developed by designer Massoud Hassani, the concept was based on his childhood experiences in Kabul, Afghanistan, where he and his brother Mahmud played near minefields with wind-powered toys.

On April 15, 2025, the first visually confirmed destruction of a Russian 2S43 Malva 8x8 self-propelled howitzer was reported by Jakub Janovsky. Coordinates shared by open-source analysts place the incident at 51.0161554 latitude and 35.5422122 longitude, near the village of Ozerki, in Russia’s Kursk region.

On April 15, 2025, two U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer strategic bombers took part in a joint air training exercise alongside South Korean fighter aircraft in the airspace over western South Korea. This combined aerial operation also included two U.S. F-16 Fighting Falcons, as well as F-35A Lightning II and KF-16 fighters from the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF).

As reported by Pucará Defensa on April 15, 2025, the first two Embraer A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft ordered by the Paraguayan Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Paraguaya, FAP) were recently seen at the Embraer facility in Gavião Peixoto, São Paulo state, Brazil. These aircraft are part of a contract for six units signed on 19 November 2024, valued at R$600 million (approximately US$96.6 million), fully financed by Brazil’s National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES).

 

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Recently updated satellite imagery on Google Earth has exposed a key Chinese naval base, revealing the growing scale of the country’s nuclear-powered submarine fleet, as reported by Interesting Engineering. Located approximately 18 kilometers east of Qingdao, on China’s eastern coast along the Yellow Sea, this military installation is now visible through an open-access observation platform.

The M270A2 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) is the latest advanced version of the U.S. Army’s long-serving and highly capable M270 tracked rocket artillery platform. Designed to deliver rapid, precise, and extended-range firepower, the M270A2 integrates upgraded fire control, mobility enhancements, and improved crew survivability.

Leidos, an American leading defense and technology solutions provider, has unveiled its latest maritime innovation: the Sea Dart, a high-performance, low-cost Uncrewed Undersea Vehicle (UUV) designed to meet the U.S. Navy's and commercial customers' operational needs.

Russia has introduced a new lightweight unmanned surface vessel (USV) named Marlin, developed as a compact kamikaze drone boat capable of targeting enemy unmanned boats, amphibious landing craft, and naval mines. The innovative system, created by the Baltic Higher Naval School named after Admiral Ushakov, reflects the growing importance of unmanned systems in modern naval warfare and Russia’s strategic push to counter evolving maritime threats. Read full Naval News at this link ...

As reported by the Sandia National Laboratories on April 2, 2025, the United States has shortened the production schedule of its upcoming nuclear gravity bomb, the B61-13, by more than 25 percent. The program now projects delivery of the first production unit seven months earlier than originally expected. This adjustment reflects a response to a stated urgent national security requirement.

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On March 25, 2025, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization took a new step in the modernization of its military capabilities by formalizing the acquisition of the Maven Smart System NATO (MSS NATO), an artificial intelligence-based warfare platform developed by the U.S. company Palantir Technologies Inc.

 

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