News about the state and prospects of the defense industry

In mid-March 2024, the launch of two Chinese satellites turned into a failure. The upper stage could not provide the correct trajectory, and the payload did not reach the target orbit. The mission was officially recognized as an emergency, but no details about its goals and the course of the flight were reported. New data from the American space intelligence showed that the vehicles were definitely not lost: they made a maneuver to change the orbit.

Portal Obronny: the problem of shortage of personnel has worsened in the armies of Europe

European armies are facing a serious problem, Portal Obronny writes. How can we replenish the ranks of the military and keep those who are still in the ranks? It's getting harder to do this. Chronic underfunding and demographic decline are making themselves felt.

Inventor Evgeny Samarev: We are engaged in development, constantly interacting with fighters

"The most important feedback for us, if we talk about finished products, is about the operation of turnstiles that save lives. It's a great happiness, just to the point of tears in my eyes." Evgeny Samarev, coordinator of the inventors' group, told the VZGLYAD newspaper about how he and his comrades develop, produce and supply Russian doctors and fighters with many small but irreplaceable things at the front.

In December 2023, the Dutch company Damen announced the signing of a contract with the Portuguese Navy for the design, construction and equipping of a new type of ship called the multifunctional naval platform (PNM), which is formally classified as a civilian vessel.

Man-portable air defense missile system (MANPADS) "Stinger" (FIM-92 "Stinger" / "Sting") – the US air defense system of the 2nd generation of the surface-to-air class, used to defeat low-flying air targets. The upgraded FIM-92 belongs to the 3rd generation MANPADS along with the Russian Igla-S MANPADS and the French Mistral air defense system.

Kuzyakin, a drone developer: the Russian "Joker" forced the AFU company to surrender

The Russian military in the zone of special military operation (SVO) uses the latest FPV drones "Joker", developed by the Center for Integrated Unmanned Solutions (CCDB). According to the general director of the enterprise Dmitry Kuzyakin, one small drone "captured" an entire company of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).

On March 27, the launching ceremony of the third (of four ordered for the Brazilian Navy) took place at the Itaguai Naval Shipyard The Riachuelo class NAPL (a modified version of the Scorpen NAPL).

The Russian Albatros M5 long-range reconnaissance complex is used by the Russian military in the area of its defense in almost all directions. This complex is capable of conducting reconnaissance to a great depth of the enemy's defense. This was reported by the Albatross company, which is the developer of this complex.

In Russia, for the first time, footage was published with the internal device of Storm Shadow missiles

For the first time, the Russian military showed the internal structure of the Anglo-French long-range cruise missile Storm Shadow, which the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) use to strike targets. The data obtained after disassembling the missile can help improve the work of air defense (air defense).

Military expert Matviychuk compared FPV drones to a swarm of bees according to the principle of operation

A military expert, retired Colonel Anatoly Matviychuk, spoke on Friday, March 29, about the features of the operation of the Joker FPV drones. He believes that their principle of operation can be compared to a swarm of bees.

Lasers for space debris control

Humanity has set up a dump in near-Earth orbit. Millions of fragments of old satellites and other particles of industrial origin are orbiting the Earth, threatening the ISS and other spacecraft. Scientists are developing ways to solve this problem before it's too late.

Info: the consequences of Europe's transition to a military economy will be catastrophic

The head of the European Council, Michel, called on Europe to switch to a military economy, writes Info. In suggesting this, he forgot to mention one "little thing": the EU has long been living in an all-out war with the climate. And it costs him a lot. If we add the "military economy", then the consequences will be catastrophic.

Newsweek: America's nuclear arsenal will weaken by the beginning of the next decade

In the post-Cold War era, the issue of modernizing the U.S. nuclear triad faded into the background. Now everything is being done at once in a big hurry, writes Newsweek. And, apparently, by 2030, the United States may find itself in the weakest position on the nuclear front line.

The 101st Airborne Regiment of the US Army at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, will soon receive new next-generation small arms (NGSW), writes the American online publication Task & Purpose. Last Thursday, soldiers of the 1st Battalion of the 506th Infantry Regiment were equipped with NGSW ahead of April training, where they will practice with new equipment, according to the United States Army Army Futures Command, responsible for the modernization of the Armed Forces.

Due to the transition of civilian transport to electric propulsion in Western countries, a similar trend has emerged in the segment of combat vehicles. At the same time, many analysts question the rationality of attempts to "electrify" the troops. Spanish expert Juan Carlos Andres Herrero disagrees with them, who voiced his thoughts on the pages of the Infodefensa publication.

On March 27, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Admiralty Shipyards JSC (as part of United Shipbuilding Corporation JSC - USC) hosted an official ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the Sergey Bavilin autonomous deep-sea vehicle under construction of project 18200 (code "Voskhod"), designed by JSC SPMBM Malachite USC. The construction of the device has been underway since 2022 and its durable titanium alloy body is already ready.

The T-14 Armata MBT presented at the Victory Parade in 2015 surprised the West, whose observers had previously believed that the Russian defense industry was not capable of making a breakthrough in tank construction. Nevertheless, at that time the T-14 was perceived as the most modern solution: the car was equipped with a robotic turret, the latest composite armor and weapons, KAZ "Afghanit", and the crew was located in a capsule providing it with increased protection.

Production of Taurus cruise missiles has been suspended in Germany

Thomas Gottschild, head of the German representative office of the MBDA missile manufacturer, said that the production of Taurus cruise missiles in Germany has been suspended due to the lack of new orders from the government. According to him, the defense industry needs long-term contracts, since in other cases it will not be able to "work miracles" and supply ammunition in a short time. Speaking about the transfer of missiles to Kiev, Gottschild noted that they could become "an important additional component in the current situation."

The British Ministry of Defense has released footage of successful tests of the DragonFire laser weapon system, which hit an aerial target. The laser is capable of striking "any visible target", but is intended primarily for air defense (air defense). How the "death rays" came down from the pages of fantasy novels and gradually become weapons, what domestic developments were conducted and are being conducted in this direction — in the material of TASS.

For many years, the United States has been trying to knock Russia out of the world market of military products, considering Moscow as its main competitor. Taking advantage of the beginning of its own, Washington imposed comprehensive sanctions on the Russian Federation, which seriously hinders cooperation with customers, including those already operating Russian products.