Army’s $186B budget request shuffles artillery, aviation plans
The Extended Range Cannon Artillery (ERCA) platform joins the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) on the budget cutting room floor for America's largest service.
European Commission’s first industrial strategy aims to break US dependence, deter Russia
The strategy may include strong language about guarding against the threat from Moscow, but it also acknowledges a long — and pricey — road ahead for Europe's defense industry.
NATO inks twin artillery deals worth $1.2B to replenish allies’ stocks, help Ukraine
The contracts are going to France’s Nexter Munitions and Germany’s Junghans Microtec for 155mm rounds, a desperately needed ammo type in Ukraine and one NATO nations are looking to fill their own stocks.
From force structure to lethality, Army poised to unveil key decisions: 2024 preview
A trio of new longer range missiles could also be in soldiers’ hands over the next dozen months.
From a door-related conundrum to Russians with Javelins: 5 Army stories from 2023
In 2023, the US Army eyed ways to better support troops in the Indo-Pacific region, and ways to restructure its formations for the future.
Shooting for the moon: Army’s 2025 budget to reflect artillery revamp
“If the… 58-cal cannon solution can't deliver on a timeline we want, what are the other options? That can be munitions…new munitions with old cannons and it can be different cannons,” said Army acquisition head Doug Bush.
All-Domain operations key focus of vast Aussie Talisman Sabre exercise
"We've just seen an awesome demonstration of firepower here, from different weapons platforms, from different nations. But importantly, all used the same battlefield command and Strategy Center to aim for those targets," Lt. Gen. Greg Bilton, the Australian Defence Force's chief of joint operations, said.
Army Needs $45B Of Smart Weapons: Hellfire, GMLRS, ATACMS, Patriot, THAAD
ARLINGTON: Against terrorists in Afghanistan, Syria, and Iraq, US forces are firing smart weapons like Hellfire missiles as fast as industry can build them — or faster. Against a well-armed adversary like Russia or China, we might run out. That’s why the military is making a major multi-year investment in precision weapons, one that the […]
Marine Airpower’s Future: Networking F-35s, V-22s, & MUX Drones
CAPITOL HILL: The Marine Corps’ top pilot sketched a vision of fast-paced and networked air operations, spearheaded by F-35 fighters, V-22 tiltrotors, and the future MUX drones, all linked to each other and the rest of the force by Link-16 and MADL. Marine F-35s have already practiced spotting targets for Marine artillery rockets and Navy […]
Navy Railgun Ramps Up in Test Shots
PENTAGON: Consider 35 pounds of metal moving at Mach 5.8. Ten shots per minute. 1,000 shots before the barrel wears out under the enormous pressures. That’s the devastating firepower the Navy railgun program aims to deliver in the next two years, and they’re well on their way. “We continue to make great technical progress,” said […]
Marines Test Killer Hovercraft, Wooden Glider & 3D Printers For The Battlefield
QUANTICO: A hovercraft that shoots salvoes of rockets. A speedboat that turns into a submarine. A mobile 3D printing factory. A big wooden box with wings (yes, really). And, of course, more drones than you can shake a stick at (because they swarm). These are just a few of the roughly 100 technologies the Marine […]
Cyber/EW, Aviation, Air Defense, Artillery: CSA Milley’s Priorities
ARLINGTON: The Army needs new weapons to fight for the air, the airwaves and cyberspace against a high-end adversary such as Russia or China, Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley said today. While the Army’s near-term readiness to “fight tonight” remains Milley’s top priority, there’s enough progress on readiness — and enough potential for a budget […]
Best Of 2016: Russia Resurgent
The military’s top generals have called Russia the number one threat. The incoming administration doesn’t seem convinced that Russia is a threat at all, with Trump himself speaking warmly of Vladimir Putin and dimly of NATO allies. But whatever Putin’s intentions for the future, Russia has proved what its capabilities are in Estonia in 2007, […]
Carter, Roper Unveil Army’s New Ship-Killer Missile: ATACMS Upgrade
UPDATED with William Roper comments WASHINGTON: The Army’s long-range artillery rocket, ATACMS, will get upgraded to strike moving targets on land and at sea, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter announced today. After at least two years of pressure from Congress and vague promises from Pentagon leaders, and for the first time since the Coastal Artillery Corps was […]
Bring Back Artillery Submunitions; Russian Threat Too Great
Bob Scales has run a lot of war games. I covered him doing them back in the late 1990s. Plus he’s held a lot of the most important jobs in the Army, including at the Army’s home of artillery, Fort Sill. He was around when the battle was on to ban landmines, which bear many similarities […]