The MARS 3, previously known as EuroPULS, is the European configuration of the Israeli-developed PULS (Precise and Universal Launching System) designed by Elbit Systems.
The system was introduced to the German market as a successor to the MARS II, which is the German designation for the M270 MLRS.
- In February 2025, Germany signed a €55 million contract for five launchers.
- MARS 3 is integrated onto an Iveco Trakker 8×8 chassis but remains platform-agnostic, with configurations also possible on Scania 8×8, Tatra 6×6, and BAE tracked vehicles.
The launcher has a combat weight of less than 40 tonnes, an engine delivering 540 horsepower (397 kW), and a road speed of 90 km/h. The crew consists of two to three soldiers, and the vehicle’s protective systems are designed according to customer specifications. - It has an effective firing range of up to 300 km, depending on the ammunition used, and the launcher is capable of firing 12 rockets in roughly 60 seconds.
- Its fire direction offers over 180° azimuth coverage, with support for three different firing directions.
On July 2, 2025, KNDS Deutschland, Elbit Systems, and Kongsberg successfully conducted the first live-fire test of the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) from the MARS 3 rocket launcher, also known as EuroPULS, in Norway.
The test used a single missile fired from an Iveco Trakker 8×8 wheeled platform and marked the first land-based launch of the NSM integrated into a multi-domain rocket artillery system in Europe.
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| The Naval Strike Missile (NSM), originally developed by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, entered service in the early 2010s and is designed for both anti-ship and land-attack roles. (Picture source: KNDS Deutschland) |
Jul
3
On June 25, 2025, the U.S. Army tested drone-dropped live grenades in Grafenwoehr, Germany, marking a turning point for small drone combat integration. Combining a Skydio X10D drone with the Combat Capabilities Development Command’s “Audible” dropper, this experiment pushes the boundaries of unmanned systems on the battlefield. The test comes as the Army seeks rapid, low-cost innovations inspired by lessons from modern conflicts like Ukraine.
Jul
3
On July 2, 2025, Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) officially launched the Virginia-class submarine Arkansas (SSN 800) into the James River from the company’s Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division. The submarine was transferred from a construction facility to a floating dry dock, then towed by tugboats to a submarine pier for final outfitting, testing, and crew certification. The USS Arkansas is the 27th Virginia-class submarine built for the U.S. Navy and the 13th to be delivered by NNS.
Jul
3
According to IDRW on June 25, 2025, India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has completed development of the K-5 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), a nuclear-capable system with an operational range of 5,000 to 6,000 kilometers.
Jul
3
Lockheed Martin’s F-22 Raptor fighter jet is confirmed to receive major upgrades under the proposed FY2026 budget plan to ensure its sustained edge in air dominance operations, according to the U.S. Air Force Financial Management and Comptroller. Despite the emergence of sixth-generation designs, the Air Force’s dedicated $90 million budget aims to extend the Raptor’s relevance.
Jul
3
On July 2nd, 2025, Royal British Navy helicopters and the Portsmouth-based patrol ship HMS Mersey closely monitored a surfaced Russian Kilo-class submarine transiting through the North Sea and English Channel, as reported by the British Navy. This incident underlines the Royal British Navy’s vigilance at a time of rising Russian naval assertiveness around the UK’s maritime approaches.
Jul
3
On June 30, 2025, the Chinese company DJI released the FlyCart 100 (FC100) during an event in Shenzhen, identifying it as its new flagship civilian cargo drone. The FC100 is developed as a follow-up to the FlyCart 30, which entered the market in August 2023. DJI indicates that the FC100 is designed for use in industrial and emergency logistics, including applications such as emergency response, engineering support, firefighting, maritime transport, and high-altitude infrastructure supply.
Jul
3
On July 2, 2025, Argentine Minister of Defense Luis Petri and U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth signed a Letter of Acceptance (LOA) at the Pentagon for the acquisition of Stryker 8x8 armored personnel carriers (APCs) for the Argentine Army. According to official statements, the Stryker acquisition is intended to contribute to the recovery of Argentina’s strategic military capacities.
Jul
2
On July 1, 2025, it was announced that Germany will fund the production of 500 An-196 Liutyi long-range drones for Ukraine through a new contract. Amid intensifying efforts to reinforce Ukraine’s long-range strike capabilities, Berlin has taken a decisive step by signing its first contract to fund the mass production of Ukrainian-made Liutyi drones.
Jul
2
On July 1, 2025, Milrem Robotics announced the successful testing and integration of the MBDA Akeron LP long-range guided missile system onto its Type-X Robotic Combat Vehicle as part of the European Defence Fund (EDF)-backed Modular Architecture Solution for EU States (MARSEUS) project. The demonstration also involved the operational deployment of the RFHunter Direction Finder developed by Cyprus-based SignalGeneriX, which was installed on MBDA’s BLOS-capable Akeron turret.
Jul
2
On June 28, 2025, Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division christened the Flight III Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129) at its Pascagoula shipyard in Mississippi, as part of the U.S. Navy’s ongoing surface fleet modernization efforts.
Jul
2
On July 2, 2025, Hyundai Rotem of South Korea finalized a landmark deal with Poland for a second batch of K2 Black Panther main battle tanks, reinforcing NATO’s armored warfare capabilities at a time of shifting European security dynamics, according to Reuters. This agreement comes amid Poland’s accelerated defense spending in response to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Jul
2
On June 30, 2025, Russian forces reportedly employed a new type of low-cost kamikaze drone to strike the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, according to Ukrainian local officials and media sources, including United24Media. While the drone’s exact designation has not been officially confirmed by Russian sources, it has been referred to in some Ukrainian reports as the “Chernika,” though this name remains unofficial.
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