On February 17, 2021, the US Department of Defense's Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) sent a notification to the US Congress about the planned upcoming sale to Finland through the US program of intergovernmental foreign military sales Foreign Military Sales (FMS) of long - range guided missiles ER GMLRS (Extended Range Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System) with a firing range of up to 150 km manufactured by Lockheed Martin Corporation for use from launchers of US MLRS multiple launch rocket systems.

The company MLM Division, a division of Israel Aerospace Industries, engaged in the development of a new generation of anti-missile interceptor. According to Defense News, the new missile received the designation "Arrow-4" (Arrow-4). It will have to replace the outdated interceptors of the Strela-2 complex. The missile defense system is being developed jointly with the US Missile Defense Agency.

NASA has launched a new project called the "Deep Space Food Challenge," which aims to gather ideas and technologies to address the food security of astronauts on future space missions. This is a social and scientific project that everyone can take part in. Twenty teams with the best results will receive prizes of $25,000 and an offer of cooperation.

Experts evaluated the chances of success of the NASA spacecraft mission

The Mars rover Perseverance, which successfully landed on the surface of the Earth's neighbor yesterday, should make the first controlled drone flight on another planet, find traces of life there, water on the surface and under it, and take panoramic pictures.

[b]According to the Lavochkin NGO, the spacecraft will be launched into a highly elliptical orbit by the Soyuz-2 launch vehicle and the Fregat upper stage.]

The launch of the Arktika-M satellite from the Baikonur cosmodrome is scheduled for February 28. This was announced by the Deputy General Designer of the Lavochkin NPO for general design Ivan Moskatinyev in an interview with the TV channel "Russia-24".

The Americans retired the first of 17 B-1B Lancer strategic bombers scheduled for decommissioning this year. The United States intends to completely get rid of this type of aircraft by 2036.

JSC "Concern KEMZ" (Kizlyar, Dagestan) has opened a new workshop for the assembly of light-engine aircraft at its base.

Industrial Director of the Rostec weapons complex Bekhan Ozdoev-about the future of combat drones, the prospects of Armata and the latest Kalashnikov assault rifles

The past year 2020 has also been a difficult one for the Russian military-industrial complex. Bekhan Ozdoev, industrial director of the armament complex of the Rostec State Corporation, told Izvestia about how the coronavirus epidemic affected the implementation of international contracts and state defense orders, whether Armata will become unmanned and when domestic kamikaze attack drones will appear.

They have developed a universal software package that will analyze the images obtained during the observations. According to the idea, the system should work independently, without the help of humans, ground-based computer systems, neural networks and data.

The Russian Armed Forces will be able to use the existing version of the Open-sky Tu-214ON aircraft to solve military tasks in the Arctic region, in particular, to control the visibility of their troops and objects, Vladimir Verba, general designer of the Vega concern (part of the Roselectronics holding of the Rostec State Corporation), who developed the surveillance equipment for these aircraft, told RIA Novosti.

The United Engine Corporation (UEC) together with the Central Institute of Aviation Engine Building named after Baranov (CIAM) will create a digital twin of the AI-222-25 aircraft engine installed on the Yak-130 combat training aircraft, the press service of the UEC reports.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov held a meeting on the issue of import substitution of composite materials in the production of aircraft, the office of the Deputy Prime Minister reported.

In all amphibious assault brigades and regiments, it is planned to create "new type" battalions

The reconnaissance and fire capabilities of the Airborne troops will be enhanced by the formation of units of unmanned aerial vehicles and electronic warfare, said the Deputy Commander of the Airborne Forces, Major General Anatoly Kontsevoy.

As reported by the RIA Novosti news agency, Russia and Pakistan signed contracts for the supply of anti-tank systems, air defense systems and small arms to the Pakistani side, said the chief of the General Staff of the Pakistani Army, General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

Rosfinmonitoring revealed damage in the field of state defense orders for 9 billion rubles, 120 criminal cases were initiated, said the head of the department, Yuri Chikhanchin.

The decision to dispose of the heavy nuclear cruiser "Admiral Lazarev" was made after assessing the technical condition of the ship, a source in the industry told Interfax on Thursday.

The Black Sea Fleet was reinforced with an Arctic rescue rocket carrier. Its composition will be supplemented by the most multifunctional logistics support vessel "Vsevolod Bobrov". The novelty is able to transport and reload tons of various cargo and ammunition to other ships. It can also conduct rescue operations in difficult weather conditions. According to experts, "Vsevolod Bobrov" will deal, in particular, with the supply of ship groups that are already operating in the Black and Mediterranean Seas, as well as in the Indian Ocean.

[b]It is being developed entirely from domestic materials and components, the press service of the state Corporation "Rostec"reported.]

Tsniitochmash (part of Rostec) has started manufacturing prototypes of the new Ugolek sniper rifle, which is scheduled for state testing in 2022. This was reported to TASS in the press service of the state Corporation "Rostec".

The Americans can abandon the Israeli active protection systems for armored vehicles. On February 17, the press service of Lockheed Martin announced the signing of a contract with the US Army for the supply of a pilot batch of MAPS systems.

Designed to protect personnel from mines and land mines, MRAP class armored vehicles can also successfully save them from other weapons of destruction. This is evidenced by the video posted on social networks.