Defense Update Newscast

Israel, Germany Cooperate in the Development of Loitering Weapons

Representatives of the Israeli and German ministries of defense signed an agreement to cooperate in the development of new types of loitering weapons. According to the agreement, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and the German Rheinmetall Defense company (RDE) will cooperate in the development of network-centric systems that will provide land forces with the means for persistent surveillance, targeting and attack of high value targets by loitering munitions.

RAFAEL Introduces Helicopter Launched Mini-UAV

RAFAEL is adding a dramatic new capability to attack helicopters – the ability to launch mini-UAVs when airborne. The company is demonstrating this capability on their attack helicopter simulator (Helicoat). “The Skylite was originally developed as a canister launched mini-UAV, so its modification into a helicopter-borne system does not require drastic redesign” says Menachem Dvir from RAFAEL. The canister-launched Skylite is displayed loaded on a quad Spike launcher, identical to a launcher already cleared for helicopters such as the Spanish Tiger attack helicopter. “When on a mission, helicopters can deploy the Skylite to scan an without exposing themselves to anti-aircraft threats, such as shoulder fired missiles (MANPADS) and RPGs. When targets are detected, Skylite hands over the images to the crew, for prosecution with precision guided weapons such as Spike ER. Attack helicopters are already using UAVs to facilitate accelerated ‘kill chains’. Therefore, offering such capability as an integral capability is the next logical step” said Dvir.

USAF Displays an Armed Predator at the Paris Airshow

The US Air Force is displaying this week its first armed UAV, the MQ-1 armed Predator. The aircraft is on display configured with two Hellfire AGM-114P Hellfire missiles and MTS EO payload.

Northrop Grumman Awarded Conventional Global Strike Study

DEFENSE UPDATE Newscast: Northrop Grumman Space and Mission Systems Corp. is studying the feasibility of global strike conventional missile based on a Minotaur launch vehicle designed to dispense BLU-198B/B sensor fused weapons at targets, at global range in less than one hour flight time. The program is managed by the US Air Force's Space and Missile Systems Center. Read more news from DEFENSE UPDATE.

British MOD Awards GMLRS Contracts

The U.K. Ministry of Defence (MoD) awarded Lockheed Martin three contracts for the delivery of Guided MLRS systems. The contracts are part of an incremental, multi-year acquisition program worth more than £250 million. The current contracts include rockets, upgrade kits, spares and support, including 12 MLRS M270B1 launcher upgrades and Guided Unitary rockets. The first new launchers have been delivered and training and testing of the new system and rockets is under way in the U.K. and U.S., respectively. Similar units have been in operation with the U.S. Army since 2002.

Russian Iskander M Hits "within a meter" from its target

Novosti press agency reported that monitoring data show that last week's tests of Russia's new Iskander-M (SS-26 Stone) missile were successful. According to, Sergei Ivanov, former defense minister, and current first deputy to the Russian prime minister, monitoring data, including photographic evidence, determined that the deviation of the missile from the target point was one meter. While the report confuses two missiles into the story, the high accuracy could be explained by a previously reported test of the R-500 missile, being integrated onto the Iskander launch vehicle. While offering 30% less range than the SS-26, R-500 has many advantages over conventional missiles, as it is flying a radar-evading trajectory and, reportedly, achieve an accuracy of three meters CEP. Read more on the Iskander (SS-26) in DEFENSE UPDATE.

Eurocopter to Integrate Hellfire II Missiles with French Tiger Helicopter

While an official decision on the selection of Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) Hellfire II to equip the French Army Tiger Attack Helicopter (HAD) has not been publicized yet, Eurocopter is moving forward with full integration of the missile and its all-digital M299 "smart" missile launcher on the helicopter. Under a contract awarded through the multi-national European Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) to Lockheed Marin, the company will provide training missiles, inert missiles, 80 M299 missile launchers and test equipment. The 54-month program be conducted at Eurocopter's facility in Marignane, France; Ground tests are planned to begin in October this year culminating in flight tests by March 2008. The photo shows the Australian Tigers, where the Hellfire II missiles are already integrated. Read more about Weaponization of Attack Helicopters for Asymmetric Warfare on the latest edition of DEFENSE UPDATE.