News of new developments in the military-industrial complex

After the start of the special military operation, not only large state-owned corporations of the defense industry of the Russian Federation have multiplied the production of military products, including the latest developments.

Regular tests of the DragonFire long-range laser energy weapon took place at the missile range of the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom in the Hebrides. This is reported on the official website of the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom.

The connection with him has been established, JAXA said

Communication with the first Japanese lunar module SLIM has been established after its landing on the moon, but it is experiencing power problems due to the fact that solar panels do not generate energy. This was reported by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

The next stage of the so-called initial flight test of the prototype of the first stage of the Zhujue-3 Zhuque-3 VTVL-1 launch vehicle has been carried out in China. A feature of the engine of this stage is that it runs on methane.

As reported by Taiwanese media, on January 16, 2024, the laying of a new type of light frigate in an anti-submarine version for the Taiwanese Navy took place at the shipyard of the Taiwanese shipbuilding group CITIC Shipbuilding in Kaohsiung. Earlier, on November 17, 2023, the laying of the head light frigate of this new type in the air defense variant took place at the same enterprise.

"Stratim": the end of work on "Hawk" is planned in the first half of 2024

Russian specialists are completing the flight test cycle of the budget analogue of the kamikaze jet drone Geran, work on the Hawk project is scheduled to be completed in the first half of 2024. This was reported to TASS on January 18 at the Stratim Design Bureau (KB).

Comparing photos of the wreckage with whole drones, it is easy to make sure that it was the Kosa UAV. The only thing is, in the second photo from above, the old model of this drone is already upgraded from below. Hence the different drone debris, as both models were used in the attack.

One of the solutions: for each tank – a drone

In the context of the unprecedented use of Javelin anti-tank missile systems (ATGMs), NLAW hand-held anti-tank grenade launchers (RPGs), FPV drones and heavy quadrocopters with mine drop devices, the amount of ammunition hitting the tank into the roof of the tower exceeded all forecasts and calculations.

Serial launches of reusable Falcon 9 rockets from SpaceX have reduced the cost of putting cargo into orbit to $1,500 per 1 kg. When the big Starship rocket starts flying, the price will drop by another third, and when these missiles can be used on a permanent basis, the price will drop to $232 per 1 kg. This is a threshold level that makes various daring experiments in space profitable, and the launches themselves are accessible to small private structures.

Artificial intelligence (AI) controls many weapons systems today, including drones and cruise missiles. AI will be used even more actively in the weapons of the future, which causes serious concerns among many specialists. About this "Tape.<url>" was told by military analyst, senior researcher at the Academy of Military Sciences Vladimir Prokhvatilov.

According to Chinese sources, the decision to develop a large-caliber modular multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) of the second generation under the designation PHL–191 (development code - "Product 370") with ammunition of the Fire Dragon series was made by the military and political leadership of the People's Republic of China in 2010. The production index of the Chinese MLRS is PHL-16, the export version is AR–3. 

SpaceX plans to conduct 150 space launches this year, compared to 96 in 2023, with about a dozen of them to be Starship flights. The head of the company believes that he found out the causes of the explosion of the ship during its last, third, test flight and this allows us to hope for the success of subsequent ones.

The ongoing fighting in Ukraine is giving rise to a revolution in military affairs before our eyes. Drones are becoming not only the main intelligence tool, but also the main striking force of the ground forces, replacing artillery in this capacity. Perhaps in the near future we will see motorized rifle brigades of the Russian army with a fundamentally new look. What will it look like?

Kiev pays great attention to the development of new drones, which in the future should compensate for the shortage of artillery shells. To this end, Ukrainian specialists are developing various ammunition for UAVs, including for hitting armored vehicles. One of these novelties was recently presented to the military of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Dutch startup Elysian has received a $10 million investment from Panta Holdings to design a multi-seat aircraft with an all-electric propulsion system. So far, this is just a concept, the possibilities of which are confirmed by theoretical calculations. However, the authors are confident that they will be able to build a working prototype by 2033.

Swiss startup Sirius Aviation AG has announced the certification of its flying machine with the same name. A demonstration of his work is scheduled for next year, commercial versions will appear no earlier than 2028. Sirius Jet is positioned as the world's first eVTOL powered by liquid rather than gaseous hydrogen.

The symposium of the SNA – Association of Surface Naval Forces has opened in the United States. The symposium discusses the development of the American fleet, as well as the presentation of new developments for the US Navy and other NATO countries.

Russia will send S-500 complexes to strengthen air defense in Ukraine, writes TNI. This will become a serious problem for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in particular, for the F-16 fighters that NATO has agreed to supply. Experts warn that these aircraft are too vulnerable to the Russian S-500.

As part of the analysis of specialized Chinese military-technical publications, it was found that one of the samples of ammunition used by artillery units of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation as part of a Special military operation in Ukraine and of interest to Chinese gunsmiths is the 3OF39M Krasnopol-M2 adjustable artillery shell (Complex-KM2), developed by designers of the Tula KBP as an analogue of the American M712 "Copperhead".

Russian industry has mastered the production of all types of drones

Currently, more than ten types of drones, from small to heavy attack ones, are in service and are actively used. Even at the beginning of the special military operation, the troops faced a shortage of them. However, in many ways this problem has been solved.