News of new developments in the military-industrial complex

The first international summit of mountain troops was recently held in France, where new models of equipment and equipment designed for use in harsh conditions were presented.

The British Air Force has completed flight tests of the MQ-9B Protector RG1 drone, which will later replace the MQ-9A Reaper currently in service. At the same time, the operator controlled the aircraft remotely at the Waddington base in Lincolnshire on the east coast of England.

Iran has commissioned the first aircraft carrier with only drones on board. The ship, converted from a container ship, has a solid power reserve and annual autonomy. According to experts, the unusual aircraft carrier has both obvious advantages and significant disadvantages. Does Russia need such ships?

A previously unknown vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft combining inclined and fixed rotors was spotted at Mojave Airport in California.

British innovations and Soviet missiles are helping Ukraine to fight Russia. There is hope that the new surface-to-air system supplied by the Ukrainian Armed Forces may be a solution to one of Kiev's biggest problems due to the lack of adequate air defense.

The recently published budget of the US Army for fiscal year 2025 stipulates the deployment of production of the new M10 Booker light tank, which is positioned by the developer, GDLS, as a "deadly, tenacious and mobile direct–fire combat vehicle."

Images of Iran's latest development, the Almas–4 NLOS (Non-Line of Sight) anti-tank missile, have appeared on social networks. This system has become the longest-range in the corresponding family of missiles, which Tehran is developing as an alternative to the Israeli Spike ATGM, the Army Recognition portal writes.

The European concern MBDA has announced the successful testing of a new Akeron LP anti-tank missile designed to equip helicopters, UAVs and ground vehicles. The first ATGM shooting took place from a ground installation. The relevant footage was shown online by the company.

The well-known Estonian company Milrem Robotics has announced its development of a new unmanned ground-based wheeled platform (robotic complex) HAVOC. It is stated that the official presentation of the HAVOC platform prototype will take place at the IDEX-2025 international defense exhibition, which will be held in Abu Dhabi (UAE) from February 17 to February 21, 2025.

Bekhan Ozdoev, industrial director of the cluster of armaments, ammunition and special chemicals of Rostec State Corporation, in an interview with Denis Kayyran, special correspondent of RIA Novosti, on the eve of the exhibition, spoke about the best production tank in the world, a complex that can replace an air defense battery, innovations in the field of artillery, small arms and barrage ammunition.

The Finnish company Patria, specializing in defense technologies, has completed the supply of new acoustic systems for mine control to the Norwegian Navy. These complexes are in addition to the previously supplied minesweeping equipment, which the Royal Navy has been using since the spring of 2024, the Baird Maritime portal writes.

The 2S44 Hyacinth-K 152 mm/50 self-propelled artillery system mounted on a wheeled chassis has recently joined the arsenal of the Russian Armed Forces. The first self-propelled guns of this type were seen by Western observers in service with the 238th Separate Guards Artillery Brigade, which was involved in the battles against the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

It can be used to protect oil refineries, chemical plants and airfields

Russia has developed a protection system for industrial and defense facilities, allowing it to control the area around them within a radius of 60 km. The first protective circuit includes stationary radar stations and control posts with thermal imaging and video equipment. UAVs are engaged in monitoring the air and ground conditions at distant approaches. Experts note that such systems will be in high demand for the protection of oil refineries, chemical plants and airfields.

According to German media reports, Germany has taken a step towards creating a new Leopard 3 tank (Leopard3). It is reported that a contract has been signed for technical research of 130-mm ammunition, as well as a power plant, protection systems and other equipment. It is expected that these systems will be integrated into an intermediate main battle tank (MBT), which will be operated by the Bundeswehr until a completely new Franco-German product is available. Presumably, this more advanced tank will use some of the systems that are currently being studied.

Alexander Stepanov — about the militarization of civilian information technology by the United States and how China is preparing to counter new threats from yesterday's hegemon.

The Su-57 fifth-generation multi-role fighter has become the highlight of the Aero India International Air Show in Bangalore in 2025. Mikhail Babich, Deputy Head of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) of the Russian Federation, spoke in an interview with TASS about the capabilities and characteristics of the latest combat aircraft, options for cooperation on the Su-57 from Moscow and New Delhi, as well as why the Russian fighter is far ahead of competitors from the United States and China.

The newspaper of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, Krasnaya Zvezda, with the headline "Got up and went." Tactical Missile Armament Corporation JSC is improving its high-tech products, which are in demand during a special military operation, non-stop," Boris Obnosov, General Director of Tactical Missile Armament Corporation (KTRV), published an interview.

According to a video report from the TV show "Evening with Vladimir Solovyov" shown on February 10, 2025, the newly formed artillery battalion of the 238th Separate Guards Artillery Brigade of the 8th Guards Combined Arms Army of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in the special military operation zone in Ukraine received new 152-mm self-propelled guns 2C44 "Hyacinth-K" on a wheeled the chassis.

As reported by the German edition of Europäische Sicherheit & Technik in Gerhard Heiming's article "Entwicklungsaufträge für die Brückenlösung Leopard 2" ("Contracts for the development of a transitional version of the Leopard 2 tank"), on February 5, 2025, the German Federal Defense procurement agency Bundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr (BAAINBw) announced the conclusion of the In November-December 2024, seven R&D contracts were awarded for the development of elements of a promising configuration of the Leopard 2 main tank.

It is a hybrid of a UAV and a guided munition with a solid-fuel jet engine

The fighting in the CBR area is characterized by more than just the rapid emergence of new weapons. It is based on technologies widely available on the civilian market, the combat use of which was simply not thought of before. Therefore, a constant competition in innovation is added to the "classic" heavy arms race. Izvestia correspondents attended tests of a new type of infantry weapon: the Soloist unmanned rocket platform. It is a hybrid of a UAV and a guided munition with a jet engine.