By David Crane defrev (at) gmail (dot) com September 14, 2009 Updated on 9/15/09 Russian arms manufacturer KBM (KB Mashynostroyeniya) (Moscow region, Russia) is currently offering an improved/uprated next-generation version of the IGLA 9K38 MANPADS (Man-Portable Air Defense System) manpackable fire-and-forget surface-to-air missile launcher system called the IGLA-S (“Needle-S”), or IGLA-Super, portable antiaircraft missile complex (PAAMC) for export to foreign …

By David Crane defrev (at) gmail (dot) com September 1, 2009 A company called Lucid Dimensions, Inc.

By David Crane defrev (at) gmail (dot) com A company called Artis, LLC has developed an anti-RPG (Rocket-Propelled Grenade) ground vehicle defense system called the Iron Curtain Active Protection System (APS) that integrates C-band radar, a distributed optical sensor, and a ring of ballistic countermeasures to neutralize incoming RPGs. Here’s how it works: Iron Curtain’s C-band radar detects and tracks …

By David Crane August 13, 2009 BAE Systems has just won a five-year, $347 million ($347M) to produce, maintain, and provide logistical support for 200 digital handheld Laser Target Locator Modules (LTLM) per month for the U.S. Army for an indefinite period of time, presumably until the $347M runs out, unless the contract is extended. BAE is partnering with Swiss …

By David Crane defrev (at) gmail (dot) com May 29, 2009 While Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ decision to halt production of the costly Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor low-observable/stealth fighter aircraft is perhaps not the best long-term strategic decision he could have made, it’s certainly understandable. Given the U.S. government’s–and thus DoD’s–current money crunch vs. the program’s high cost and lack …

By David Crane defrev at gmail dot com April 6, 2009 I’ve been writing about the vulnerability of U.S. Navy surface ships, particularly large expensive aircraft carriers, against other countries’ anti-ship cruise missiles and torpedoes for awhile, now. Specifically, I’ve focused on the latest crop of supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles and supercavitating torpedoes, even though some argue that long-range wake-homing …

By David Crane defrev at gmail dot com September 28, 2008 Barrett Firearms Manufacturing, Inc., maker of the famous Model M82A1 (a.k.a. Barrett M82A1 a.k.a. Barrett Light-Fifty) semi-auto .50 BMG anti-materiel rifle, recently introduced a new .338 Lapua Magnum bolt-action anti-materiel/sniper rifle called the Barrett M98B or Barrett Model 98B. The M98B weighs 11.45 lbs (empty), has an ammo capacity …

By David Crane defrev at gmail dot com August 20, 2008 The recent dust-up in Georgia between Russian and Geogian forces, i.e. the Russian invasion of Georgia, has reinvigorated expensive, high-tech conventional-warfare/Cold-War-type weapons like the Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor low-observable/stealth fighter aircraft a.k.a. F/A-22 Raptor air-to-air (air-superiority fighter)/ground attack aircraft. The F-22, in particular has been receiving a lot of …

By David Crane defrev at gmail dot com Speaking of sub-Hellfire-yield laser-guided missiles, Thales UK Air Systems Division (ASD) has introduced a new low-cost, lightweight multi-role missile called, appropirately enough, the Lightweight Multirole Missile (a.k.a. Lightweight Multi-role Missile)–or LMM for short–as a follow-on to the Starstreak Self-Propelled High-Velocity Missile (SP HVM) a.k.a. Starstreak Multi-role Missile (surface-to-air/surface-to-surface missile) and Starburst surface-to-air …

by David Crane defrev at gmail.com May 30, 2008 DefenseReview has been hearing some pretty great things about the Eurofighter Typhoon multi-role combat fighter aircraft’s performance, from its excellent flight characteristics to its pilot-friendly cockpit, to its helmet-mounted display and targeting system. What’s interesting is that it can perform so well acrobatically, even without thrust vectoring. Advanced electronic fly-by-wire flight …