June 2, 2020 | International, Land

BAE successfully tests ground-launched APKWS rockets for first time

WASHINGTON — BAE Systems has completed a successful ground-to-ground test of its Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System rocket for the first time, the company announced Monday.

The test, conducted at the U.S. Army's Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona, involved “several successful shots” of the APKWS rockets out of a launcher, built specifically for ground vehicles by Arnold Defense, according to BAE.

The weapon has traditionally been launched from rotary or fixed-wing aircraft. A ground-based APKWS, delivered via the Arnold Fletcher launcher, was first unveiled in 2018.

“Demand is growing for ground-to-ground precision munitions that provide a safe standoff distance for small ground units,” Greg Procopio, director of precision guidance and sensing solutions at BAE Systems, said in a statement. “We're working closely with our customer and partners to deliver that capability.”

The APKWS laser-guided rocket is used by the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. The Navy holds the program of record.

The rockets have also spread via foreign military sales to more than a dozen foreign nations. However, the U.S. Army decided to end procurement of the rockets as a result of its “night court” budget review. In its fiscal 2021 budget request, the service said it redirected $122 million in funding from the rockets toward higher priorities.

Even before the Army's decision was official, BAE was working to increase the flexibility of APKWS as a low-cost, precision-strike option. Late last year, the Air Force successfully tested it for missile defense, and the ground-to-ground version would add to the military options for the weapon.

The company delivered more than 35,000 APKWS units by the end of 2019 and expects to deliver 18,000 in 2020.

https://www.defensenews.com/land/2020/06/01/bae-successfully-tests-ground-launched-apkws-rockets-for-first-time/

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April 1, 2021 | International, Land

DoD SBIR/STTR Component BAA Pre-Release: Army SBIR BAA 21.4
The DoD Small Business and Technology Partnerships Office announces the pre-release of the following Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) topics: Army SBIR 21.4 29 topics are included in this release. Please visit https://rt.cto.mil/wp-content/uploads/Army_21.4_ASO_Announcement_5.pdf for a comprehensive breakdown of each. IMPORTANT DATES: April 1, 2021: Topic Q&A opens to questions April 14, 2021: BAA opens, begin submitting proposals in DSIP May 4, 2021: Topic Q&A closes to new questions at 12:00 p.m. ET May 18, 2021: BAA closes, full proposals must be submitted in DSIP no later than 12:00 p.m. ET Full topics and instructions are available at the link provided above. Topic Q&A During pre-release, proposers can contact TPOCs directly at at usarmy.pentagon.hqda-asa-alt.mbx.army-applied-sbir-program@mail.mil. Once DoD begins accepting proposals on April 14, 2021, no further direct contact between proposers and topic authors is allowed. Topic Q&A will be available for proposers to submit technical questions at https://www.dodsbirsttr.mil/submissions/login beginning April 1, 2021. All questions and answers are posted electronically for general viewing. Topic Q&A will close to new questions on May 4, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. ET but will remain active to view questions and answers related to the topics until the BAA close.
November 1, 2017 | International, Security

U.S.-Canada to Test Cross-border Communication for Disaster Response
Newswise — WASHINGTON—Emergency management officials and first responder agencies on both sides of the border between the United States and Canada will work together for an experiment in disaster response. The U. S. Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate and Canada Department of National Defence's Centre for Security Science will be conducting the fifth Canada-U.S. Enhanced Resiliency Experiment (CAUSE V) on November 15-16, 2017. This year's exercise scenario will be based on a volcanic eruption and crater collapse at Mt. Baker. Mt. Baker is an active volcano and closely monitored by the USGS. It is visible to local residents on both sides of the border. CAUSE V will take place along the border between the Canadian province of British Columbia (B.C.) and the state of Washington (WA). The scenario involving a (simulated) Mt. Baker volcanic eruption and subsequent mudflow was developed with help from the U.S. Geological Survey and will provide a realistic opportunity to test cross-border communications and interoperability between U.S. and Canadian first responder and emergency management agencies. Participants will include local first responders, emergency management agencies from Whatcom County, Washington in the U.S., the City of Abbotsford, City of Langley and the Township of Langley in B.C., U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Canada Border Services Agency. This experiment will use emerging tools for enhanced situational awareness and communications to plan for, respond and recover from this disaster. Wednesday, November 16 12:00 PM PDT U.S. Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate and Canada Minister of Defence's Center for Security Science will hold a joint press conference on the conclusion of the fifth Canada-U.S. Enhanced Resiliency Experiment (CAUSE V). Whatcom County Unified Emergency Coordination Center 311 Grand Ave, Bellingham, WA 98225 Credentialed media planning to attend are required to RSVP no later than November 13 by contacting Evrim Bunn at evrim.bunn@associates.hq.dhs.gov or 1 (202) 768-5554. http://www.newswise.com/articles/u-s-canada-to-test-cross-border-communication-for-disaster-response
May 7, 2019 | International, Land

Turkish, Indonesian firms team up on medium-weight tank
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