Scorpion Light mobile mortar system showcased at Marine Gunners Symposium

The Air Force has awarded Applied Research Associates a contract to build a prototype of the planned replacement for the GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bomb, the company announced Friday. Under the 24-month contract from the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s (AFLCMC) Eglin Munitions Directorate, ARA will lead overall design and production of test articles for the air-to-ground munition known as the Next Generation Penetrator (NGP). The munition is intended to be a large weapon that can be deployed by Air Force stealth bombers to attack difficult-to-reach targets such as hardened bunkers, tunnels and other structures buried deep underground. https://lnkd.in/eHHPbfCP

The Air Force has awarded Applied Research Associates a contract to build a prototype of the planned replacement for the GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bomb, the company announced Friday. Under the 24-month contract from the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s (AFLCMC) Eglin Munitions Directorate, ARA will lead overall design and production of test articles for the air-to-ground munition known as the Next Generation Penetrator (NGP). The munition is intended to be a large weapon that can be deployed by Air Force stealth bombers to attack difficult-to-reach targets such as hardened bunkers, tunnels and other structures buried deep underground. https://lnkd.in/e6icikbs

The Air Force has awarded Applied Research Associates a contract to build a prototype of the planned replacement for the GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bomb, the company announced Friday. Under the 24-month contract from the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s (AFLCMC) Eglin Munitions Directorate, ARA will lead overall design and production of test articles for the air-to-ground munition known as the Next Generation Penetrator (NGP). The munition is intended to be a large weapon that can be deployed by Air Force stealth bombers to attack difficult-to-reach targets such as hardened bunkers, tunnels and other structures buried deep underground. https://lnkd.in/eCSCvvjy

The Air Force has awarded Applied Research Associates a contract to build a prototype of the planned replacement for the GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bomb, the company announced Friday. Under the 24-month contract from the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s (AFLCMC) Eglin Munitions Directorate, ARA will lead overall design and production of test articles for the air-to-ground munition known as the Next Generation Penetrator (NGP). The munition is intended to be a large weapon that can be deployed by Air Force stealth bombers to attack difficult-to-reach targets such as hardened bunkers, tunnels and other structures buried deep underground. https://lnkd.in/ewgtCgYR

The Air Force has awarded Applied Research Associates a contract to build a prototype of the planned replacement for the GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bomb, the company announced Friday. Under the 24-month contract from the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s (AFLCMC) Eglin Munitions Directorate, ARA will lead overall design and production of test articles for the air-to-ground munition known as the Next Generation Penetrator (NGP). The munition is intended to be a large weapon that can be deployed by Air Force stealth bombers to attack difficult-to-reach targets such as hardened bunkers, tunnels and other structures buried deep underground. https://lnkd.in/dvCeiC2G

The Air Force has awarded Applied Research Associates a contract to build a prototype of the planned replacement for the GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bomb, the company announced Friday. Under the 24-month contract from the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s (AFLCMC) Eglin Munitions Directorate, ARA will lead overall design and production of test articles for the air-to-ground munition known as the Next Generation Penetrator (NGP). The munition is intended to be a large weapon that can be deployed by Air Force stealth bombers to attack difficult-to-reach targets such as hardened bunkers, tunnels and other structures buried deep underground. https://lnkd.in/eRVGzMrX

MQ-9A successfully launches Switchblade 600 loitering munitions 175 kms (~33 lbs explosives) with assisted “forward pass”. Additional launched effects as repeater perhaps? MQ-9A confirmed: AFSOC successfully demonstrated the air-launch of the ALTIUS 700 from an MQ-9A in early 2024. The armed variant 700M has an explosive mass of ~33 lbs, viable for IADS, C2 nodes, tanks etc. USAF focus: MQ-9A to launch these ALEs to gather intelligence in hostile airspace, keeping the more expensive MQ-9A itself out of harm's way (enhance survivability in contested environments). The ALTIUS 700 ALEs without the warhead offers triple the payload capacity of the ALTIUS 600, which has also been successfully launched from MALEs. The ALTIUS launches have been reported achieving 440 kms for deep sense and strike range. The 600 and 700 ALTIUS and their armed variants “M” appear to have much greater distance compared to the Switchblades without the “forward pass” requirement.

The US Navy has launched an ambitious effort to revolutionize #submarine warfare capabilities through the integration of #artificialntelligence and #machinelearning combat assistants, marking a significant shift toward #autonomous undersea warfare systems. Major Combat System Overhaul The Navy's Program Executive Office for Undersea Weapons Systems (PEO UWS) and Submarine Combat and Weapons Control Program Office (PMS 425) recently issued a comprehensive Request for Information (#RFI) outlining plans to modernize the AN/BYG-1 combat system—the Navy's primary undersea warfare platform deployed across all active submarines and those operated by the Royal Australian Navy. The initiative encompasses three core capability updates: tactical control re-architecture, payload re-architecture, and most significantly, the development of new Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Tactical Decision Aids (AI/ML TDA). The contract award is scheduled for July 2027, with a base year and four option years that could extend through 2032. Proven Virtual Technology Foundation The Navy's confidence in AI integration stems from successful deployment of the AN/BYG-1 Virtual Twin (vTwin) system, which achieved major milestones in 2020-2021. Developed by Naval Undersea Warfare Center Newport (NUWC) Division Newport, the vTwin provides equivalent combat control functionality in one-fourth the hardware footprint of traditional systems. The vTwin successfully completed live-fire demonstrations in September 2020, launching exercise torpedoes and deploying machine learning applications at sea. The system demonstrated the Navy's goal of "Compile to Combat in 24 Hours" (C2C24)—the ability to rapidly deploy new capabilities from development to operational use.

🚁💥 In a demo, a US Army’s Apache helicopter successfully detected, tracked, and intercepted aerial targets in contested environments using various munitions. These included the JAGM missiles, Hellfire variants, as well as 30mm proximity-fused rounds and Hydra-70 rockets with APKWS guidance that engaged three of four targets. 🗣️ “This was about validating our capabilities and ensuring the Apache remains a vital asset in modern combat scenarios,” said Chief Warrant Officer 5 Daniel Y. Meanwhile, LTC Cusack, product manager for Hellfire and JAGM, noted that the main challenge lies in how much the army can dedicate to training aircrews and integrating munitions to lighten the workload.

Finland is investing in its defense, and over the last 10 years, the growth in investment has been significant. Finland's defense budget as a share of GDP has increased from 1.6% in 2020 to 2.75% in 2025. The rise is projected to continue, with an estimated level of 3.04% in 2029. In 2014, 14% of the defense budget was allocated to equipment/capabilities, while in 2024, that figure was 45.8%. Finland is set to begin investing 6 billion euros in the modernization of its ground combat/ground forces/Army, and this program will focus on the following capabilities: -Armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles. -Main battle tank life-cycle upgrades. -Anti-tank capabilities. -Anti-aircraft capabilities. -Engineer equipment. -Field artillery. -Mortar systems. -Rocket launcher systems. -Modern ammunition for artillery and mortars. -Individual soldier protective equipment will also be upgraded. This includes, among other things, night vision devices, and a new assault rifle will be introduced as part of the small arms reform.