The British Army has taken a step towards exploring a deal for a fleet of new armoured vehicles, potentially supporting at least 1,000 British jobs, by announcing it is re-joining the Boxer programme today. 
 

A Beijing lab is developing a smart system for military vehicles that researchers believe could revolutionize driving in all kinds of terrain and conditions, reports said Tuesday. 
 

At a ceremony held on March 15th at the Residence of France in The Hague in the presence of Col. Sylvain Nogrette, Defense Attaché and Mr. Mathieu Kahn, Head of Department of Treasury and Economic Affairs at the Embassy of France, Thales and Renault Trucks Defense SAS have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the integration of the Thales SOTAS on-board communication systems by Renault Trucks Defense in its vehicles for export markets. 
 

SMi Reports: Registration for the 3rd annual Future Armoured Vehicles Situational Awareness conference and exhibition closes in just under 3 weeks. SMi Group's 3rd annual Future Armoured Vehicles Situational Awareness conference will commence in London on 11th and 12th April 2018. The event has already attracted a global audience of communication experts from the military, research and industry. Nations attending include: Belgium, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom, USA and more. Attending organisations include: Aselsan Electronics Industries Incorporated, BAE Systems Hägglunds, Battlespace Publications, British Army, Canadian Armed Forces - Forces Armees, CeramTec-ETEC GmbH, UK Department for International Trade, FLIR UAS, German MoD (BAAINBw), Hensoldt Optronics, IMP Castle Associates Limited, KONGSBERG Protech Systems...

ASHGABAT --- Turkmenistan has acquired two new types of armored vehicles from Turkey.  The dissident 'Chronicles of Turkmenistan' uploaded a video on February 26, 2018, of a recent visit by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to a new border post near Serhetabat, which is close to the border with Afghanistan. 

BAE Systems has submitted its proposal to the U.S. Army to build and test the Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) vehicle for use by the Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT).  The MPF is a new combat vehicle required by the Army to provide the IBCT with a protected platform capable of delivering overwhelming precision firepower combined with the ability to move rapidly in a variety of terrain conditions. 

Australian businesses will be able to better plan and be better prepared to win future defence industry contracts through the Melbourne Industry Consultation Day for the Main Battle Tank Upgrade and Under Armour Breaching and Bridging projects on 21 February 2018. 
 

In a win for Australian defence industry, successful Australian SME - Thomas Global Systems - has announced with Safran Group a significant partnership to manufacture and support high-technology defence equipment in Western Sydney. 
 

On the margins of NATO Ministerial Meeting taking place in Brussels on February 14-15, Minister of National Defence Raimundas Karoblis and Federal Minister of Defence Dr Ursula von der Leyen signed a Protocol of Intent on affiliation of the Mechanised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf of the Lithuanian Armed Forces to a German Army division. 
 

SMi Group will welcome the expertise of new Gold Sponsor: Nexter Systems, at the only dedicated event on combat vehicle C4ISTAR and systems integration, when they present and exhibit at Future Armoured Vehicles Situational Awareness 2018. Nexter Systems mission is to meet the needs of armies all around the world, through the design, development and production of high-end defence systems, artillery and armoured vehicles for land forces. Its expertise also covers the supply of weapons systems to air forces and navies. Taking place in London on the 11th and 12th April, this focused armoured vehicle conference will have a strong focus on the collaboration between military, research and industry, and explore the latest technologies enabling enhanced vetronics, vehicle architectures, sensor development and integration, CIS and battle management.

What do Denmark, Estonia, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland have in common? 
 

ROANNE, France --- Nexter and Texelis are delighted at today's confirmation by Florence Parly, Minister of Armies, for the attribution of the supply of Lightweight Multi-Role Armoured Vehicles (VBMR Véhicules Blindés Multi-Rôles) for the French Army. 
 

Turkey's leading land systems manufacturer Otokar submitted it best and final offer (BAFO) regarding the serial production of Altay Main Battle Tank Project to Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (SSM) on February 8th within the scope of the "Modern Tank Production Project by using National Sources". 
 

BOLZANO, Italy --- Iveco Defence Vehicles has handed over the last tranche of 62 Light Armoured Vehicles (LAV) to the Norwegian Defence Material Agency (NDMA). The handover ceremony was held at Iveco DV Headquarters in Bolzano, Italy, attended by Brigadier General Morten Eggen, Head of Norwegian Defence Material Agency, Land Systems Division. 
 

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany -- Soldiers with the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade and 2nd Armored Brigade, 1st Infantry Division are the first to receive new electronic warfare, known as EW, prototype systems that enable the U.S. Army to contest and challenge near-peer adversaries in this critical domain. 
 

Leading British companies in the defence sector -- BAE Systems, Pearson Engineering and Thales UK -- have signed agreements with the ARTEC consortium as partners for the production of BOXER. 
 

The Royal Thai Army conducted tests of the China-built VT4 main battle tank, also known as the MBT3000, on Friday at the Royal Thai Army Cavalry Centre at Adisorn military camp in Saraburi. Reporters were there to witness the tests take place. 
 

In January 2018 leading British companies in the defence sector; BAE Systems, Pearson Engineering and Thales UK have signed agreements with the ARTEC consortium as partners for the production of BOXER. 
 

DETROIT ARSENAL, Mich. --- Two of the Army's top leaders reviewed last week a new process to accelerate the Next-Generation Combat Vehicle program amid a massive shift to modernize the entire Army. 
 

Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, today congratulated Thales Australia on the launch of the Bushmaster MR6 protected mobility vehicle, which is currently competing in the United Kingdom Multi-Role Vehicle Protected (MRVP) programme. 
 

GATINEAU, Quebec --- Royal Canadian Armour Corps (RCAC) members who had the privilege of working with Leopard 1 Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) are saying farewell to the venerable workhorses, whose service to the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) is coming to an end. 
 

Supacat has announced that the fleet of Special Operations Vehicles – Mobility Heavy (SOV-MH) has been accepted by the New Zealand Ministry of Defence. The fleet goes into service with the New Zealand Defence Force early this year. 
 

MADRID --- Today, General Dynamics European Land Systems signed a contract to deliver up to 227 Piranha 5 wheeled armored vehicle in six different configurations to the Romanian Armed Forces. The contract has a total value exceeding $ 1 billion. It is part of the Romanian Army’s plan to modernize its legacy wheeled armored vehicle fleet. 
 

SMi Group reports: Pleora Technologies to sponsor and exhibit at SMi’s Future Armoured Vehicles Situational Awareness conference SMi are delighted to announce that Pleora Technologies have confirmed their participation as an event exhibitor at the next Future Armoured Vehicles Situational Awareness conference, taking place in Central London on the 11th-12th April 2018. As the only conference of its kind exclusively dedicated to armoured vehicle situational awareness, this highly anticipated two-day event will hone in on key topics surrounding: vetronics architectures, sensor integration, CIS and battle management, inter-platforms communication systems and many more!

BAE Systems has submitted its bid for the Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) 1.1 down-select with an offering that has superior mobility, survivability and increased carry and payload. 
 

The Strategic Missile Forces are being supplied with advanced means of engineering armaments for improving manoeuvrability and survivability of mobile-based combat missile systems, including the engineering support & concealment vehicle and remote mine clearing vehicles. 
 

The U.S. Army has awarded BAE Systems a contract that clears the path to begin full-rate production of the company’s M109A7 Self-Propelled Howitzer and M992A3 ammunition carrier vehicles. 
 

The Defence Forces received a mandate from Defence Minister Jussi Niinistö to procure a life cycle upgrade from the Finnish Patria Land Systems Oy. Life cycle upgrades are used to modernise 65 XA-180 armoured personnel carriers. 
 

General Dynamics Land Systems Inc., Sterling Heights, Michigan, was awarded a $2,628,902,518 fixed-price-incentive contract for the upgrade of up to 786 M1A1 configured Abrams vehicles to newly configured M1A2 System Enhancement Package Version 3, and to upgrade M1A1 vehicles to M1A12S and M1A2-K vehicles. 
 

OSHKOSH, Wis. --- Oshkosh Defense, LLC announced today that the U.S. Army has placed a $100.1 million order for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) program, to include 258 vehicles and associated installed and packaged kits. This is the seventh order for JLTVs since the contract was awarded in August 2015. 
 

A BAE Systems-led team, including Hobson Industries and Penman MW Engineering, has won a significant contract to provide Post Design Services (PDS) for the British Army’s Pinzgauer, Land Rover and Light Trailer fleets, which could be worth up to £12m. 
 

New artillery formation of the Combined Arms Army located in Moscow region, Western MD, received more than 10 2S33 Msta-SM2 self-propelled howitzers. 
 

Defence and security company Saab has received an order from the German company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH (KMW) for deliveries of Mobile Camouflage Systems (MCS). Deliveries will take place during the period 2018-2022. 
 

SATORY, France --- Nexter Group announces the success of the new VBCI evaluation campaign by Qatari forces. It has demonstrated once again all the performances of the vehicle. The [firings], carried out in different weapon system configurations, highlighted the performances and ergonomic qualities of the 40mm turret equipped with the 40CTA telescopic gun. This is another important step towards signing the contract for the supply of VBCI combat platforms in Qatar. 
 

On December 15 two training Vilkas IFVs were brought to the Lithuanian Armed Forces Vehicle and Equipment Depot. On December 18 a media presentation of the vehicles will be held at the Vehicle and Equipment Depot in Kaunas with participation of Minister of National Defence Raimundas Karoblis. 
 

SMi Group reports: ACOEM METRAVIB to present at Future Armoured Vehicles Situational Awareness 2018 SMi Group is thrilled to announce a new sponsor and speaker for the third annual Future Armoured Vehicles Situational Awareness Conference: ACOEM METRAVIB. Through its METRAVIB brand, ACOEM offers high-performance threat surveillance, detection and localization solutions for the defense and civil protection sectors. They will be joining an array of technical experts, from the military, research and industry, set to present on the latest technologies enabling enhanced vetronics, vehicle architectures, sensor development and integration, CIS and battle management. Taking place in London on the 11th and 12th April 2018. This focused two-day conference will prepare today’s mechanised and armoured forces for the challenges of an uncertain and dangerous tomorrow, within the broader set of C4ISTAR requirements for contemporary land operations.

Leonardo has announced sales this year of over 150 units of its ‘Linaps’ artillery pointing system and over 100 FIN 3120 Inertial Navigation Units (INU), worth together more than 50M Euros, signaling a sustained level of interest in the company’s artillery aiming systems. Linaps, which can be adapted to fit any existing artillery, mortar or MLRS platform provides highly-accurate weapon management and navigation, without reliance on GPS. The system is being seen by customers worldwide as a cost-effective way to significantly enhance the capabilities of both modern and legacy systems. 
 

SMi Reports: Senior Military confirmed to present at the 3rd annual Future Armoured Vehicles Situational Awareness Conference Conference organisers SMi Group have released a brochure for the upcoming, third annual Future Armoured Vehicles Situational Awareness conference, returning to London, UK on the 11th and 12th April 2018. The ability to make accurate, decisive decisions is more important than ever for today’s mechanised forces. Future land forces must prepare for high intensity conflict, where information superiority and surveillance capabilities may be challenged by an innovative enemy. For advantages to be maintained, an intimate understanding of the capabilities available must be explored. With a strong focus on the collaboration between military, research and industry, Future Armoured Vehicles Situational Awareness 2018, invites not only the programme managers, capability directors and operational commanders from the armed forces, but also ensures that the senior engineers, chief scientists and platform managers from the leading solution providers are present.

LIVONIA, Mich. --- The likelihood is high that the Army won't get to pick the time and place of its choosing for the next battle, said Gen. Robert Abrams. 
 

Czech optical specialist Meopta will support vital line-of-sight technology for BAE Systems’ CV90 Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) as part of a Memorandum of Understanding with defence and security company Saab. 
 

The RChBD military base located in the Amur region, Eastern MD, has received the latest R-145BM-1 command-and-staff signal vehicles based on a modernized armored personal carrier. 
 

Officers of the military representation in Chelyabinsk started inspection of manufacturing of the Terminator’s first consignment. The production is scheduled in accordance with the procurement contract with the Defence Ministry. 
 

Thales has recently led the complex integration of a state of the art remotely operated turret and surveillance system to the Kuwait Ministry of Interior for use on eight armoured patrol vehicles. All vehicles will be ready for operations by the end of 2017.