NZDF to Roll Out 121 New Unimog Trucks and Utility Vehicle Fleet

11 Oktober 2026

Daimler Unimog trucks (photo: NZDF)

The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) is set to receive a new fleet of 121 Unimog trucks, minibuses and utility vehicles, which will be used for domestic training, logistics and emergency response operations.

The Government has approved a $59.915 million investment to replace a significant portion of the ageing Garrison and Training Support vehicle fleet at camps and bases across New Zealand.

“In an increasingly challenging domestic environment, with more frequent and severe weather events, it is critical we equip the NZDF personnel deployed on challenging humanitarian and disaster relief missions with vehicles that are reliable, fit-for-purpose and safe,” Sarah Minson, Deputy Secretary, Capability Delivery, said.

The new fleet will be made up of 61 Daimler Unimog trucks, 24 Mitsubishi Triton utility vehicles and 36 Ford Tourneo Sport Buses. The delivery of these commercial off-the-shelf vehicles will commence, in phases, from later this year.

Mitsubishi Triton utility vehicles (photo: NZDF)

“For decades the domestic support vehicle fleet has been the backbone of daily Defence operations, ensuring personnel are always trained, equipped and ready to respond to national emergencies like flooding or earthquakes. But with the Unimog trucks now more than 40 years old, the fleet is becoming increasingly unreliable, and its replacement is now well overdue”.

Defence is procuring the utility vehicles, minibuses and communications equipment from New Zealand-based businesses and the Unimog trucks from Europe. The maintenance of all vehicles will be contracted to local companies.

“Not only will this new fleet shore-up NZDF operations in the regions, it will also make a contribution to New Zealand’s economy and free up time for maintenance personnel to conduct other core military activities,” Sarah Minson said.

Funding for this investment was set aside in Budget 2025, including four years operating funding. The funding covers the cost to procure the vehicles along with maintenance, seating pods, winches, commercial radios, project management and other supporting equipment.

(NZDF)

Leonardo DRS Completes Training and Delivery of INOD Block III Thermal Weapon Sights for the Australian Army

11 Oktober 2026

Final training and delivery for the Improved Night/Day Observation Device (INOD) Block III thermal weapon sights have been completed (photos: Leonardo)

Final delivery and training under LAND 159 Tranche 1 supports Australian Army sniper capability

ARLINGTON, Va. — Leonardo DRS, Inc. (Nasdaq: DRS) has completed final training and delivery for the Improved Night/Day Observation Device (INOD) Block III thermal weapon sights provided to the Australian Army under the LAND 159 Tranche 1 program.

The INOD Block III is a clip-on thermal weapon sight designed to help snipers and special operations forces detect, identify and engage targets in low-light and degraded visual conditions, including darkness, smoke, haze and adverse weather. Mounted in front of an existing direct-view optic, the system is designed to preserve the operator’s zeroed scope and is compatible with magnifications from 5x to greater than 25x.

“Completing delivery and training for the Australian Army is an important milestone for our team,” said Jerry Hathaway, senior vice president and general manager of Leonardo DRS Electro-Optical and Infrared Systems business unit. “The INOD Block III provides a thermal sighting capability intended to support sniper operations in demanding conditions, and the training helps ensure personnel are prepared to operate and maintain the system.” 

The sight uses a micro-cooled, 640-by-480 mid-wave infrared focal plane array to provide thermal imagery and target discrimination in conditions that can limit conventional optics. 

Designed for sustained field use, the system uses lithium batteries with hot-swap capability, allowing battery changes without interrupting operation. The sight can also use external power for extended static-surveillance tasks. A rear-facing focus knob, wired remote control and glove-compatible, one-handed operation support use in field conditions.

For the Australian Army, the LAND 159 Tranche 1 acquisition represents a step-change in long-range lethality. Australian snipers will now carry the same generation of thermal sight currently fielded with U.S. Army Special Operations Forces, strengthening interoperability with Australia’s primary alliance partner across joint and coalition operations. Beyond the hardware, DRS provided hands-on training to Australian Army personnel to support operation and maintenance of the systems. The company is a provider of individual weapon sights and thermal targeting systems to the U.S. Army. The INOD family is part of DRS’s thermal sighting portfolio, which also includes the Family of Weapon Sights program. 

Australian defense company NIOA is the prime contractor for LAND 159 Tranche 1 and managed local program coordination and delivery logistics on behalf of the Australian Army. 

(Leonardo)

Lockheed Martin to Deliver S-70 BLACK HAWK Helicopter Training Devices and Services to the Philippine Air Force

11 Oktober 2026

Lockheed Martin’s S-70i Black Hawk virtual maintenance trainer (images: Lockheed Martin)

ORLANDO, Fla., – Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) has signed a Direct Commercial Sale contract with the Philippine Department of National Defense to deliver an S-70i Black Hawk Full Flight Simulator, Virtual Maintenance Trainer, and associated courseware to the Philippine Air Force.

The Philippines operates a fleet of Sikorsky Black Hawks for a range of missions, including search and rescue, humanitarian aid, firefighting, and troop transport across the archipelago. The contract strengthens the Philippine Air Force’s ability to train Black Hawk pilots and maintainers locally and supports the country’s broader defense modernization efforts. It also marks an expansion of Lockheed Martin’s training and simulation portfolio as the first order of Lockheed Martin S-70i Black Hawk training devices.

“It’s a privilege to partner with the Philippine Air Force with a suite of systems to support their training requirements as they grow their fleet of S-70i Black Hawk helicopters,” said Tim James, Vice President of Air and Commercial Solutions at Lockheed Martin. “This contract award is a long-term investment in the PAF’s mission readiness and reflects Lockheed Martin’s proven ability to deliver sustainment solutions across the entire operational pipeline.”

The S-70i Black Hawk Full Flight Simulator is an aircraft digital twin training solution that replicates the exact sights and sensations of flying an S-70i Black Hawk aircraft. The Virtual Maintenance Trainer delivers high-fidelity, physics-based models of every airframe subsystem, from hydraulics to avionics, that lets maintainers train in a fully immersive, risk-free environment.

“Lockheed Martin remains committed to its longstanding partnership with the Philippine Air Force. Through these advanced training systems, we effectively support the needs of its growing force and expanding Black Hawk fleet. These solutions build on the PAF’s ongoing efforts to enhance training, ensuring crews and maintainers remain mission-ready while advancing their broader modernization goals,” said William Blair, Vice President and Regional Chief Executive, Asia & India.

In addition to the training devices and courseware, the contract includes sustainment and spares support through 2032. The Philippine Air Force will continue to train Black Hawk pilots at the U.S.-based Sikorsky Training Academy as their in-country training capability is being established.

Lockheed Martin’s suite of S-70i Black Hawk training devices ranges from desktop trainers to fully immersive virtual environments. Lockheed Martin uses a digital twin of the Black Hawk to build the most accurate and up-to-date representation of the aircraft’s systems, components, and configurations to enhance training effectiveness, and a digital thread of the Black Hawk’s operational flight program to create high-fidelity simulations in days rather than years to keep pace with aircraft modernization efforts.

In addition to the Black Hawk, Lockheed Martin also supports training for other Lockheed Martin aircraft, including the CH-53K, F-35, F-16 and C-130J.

(Lockheed Martin)

BRP Conrado Yap dan BRP Emilio Jacinto Kembali Bertugas

10 Oktober 2026

Korvet BRP Conrado Yap (PS-30) (photo: MetroCDODev)

BRP Conrado Yap kembali bertugas di Cagayan de Oro

Setelah menjalani perawatan dan perbaikan intensif selama dua tahun, BRP Conrado Yap (PS-30) -- satu-satunya kapal korvet kelas Pohang yang dibeli dari Korea Selatan -- terlihat sedang bersandar di Pelabuhan Macabalan, Cagayan de Oro.

Hal ini mengindikasikan bahwa kapal tersebut kembali beroperasi setelah dua tahun tidak aktif, serta kini siap memperkuat armada *Offshore Combat Force* (Pasukan Tempur Lepas Pantai) Angkatan Laut Filipina.

Meskipun belum ada rincian mengenai wilayah tanggung jawab patrolinya, fakta bahwa kapal ini kembali beroperasi meningkatkan ketersediaan kapal yang siap untuk dikerahkan. (PitzDefense)

Korvet BRP Emilio Jacinto (PS-35) (photo: Philippine Navy)

BRP Emilio Jacinto Kembali Operasional untuk Penugasan di Mindanao Barat

Sangley Point, Cavite City -- BRP Emilio Jacinto (PS-35) kembali menjalankan tugas operasional setelah Armada Filipina/Philippine Fleet (PF) melalui *Offshore Combat Force* (OCF) Angkatan Laut Filipina melepas kapal tersebut untuk penugasan di Naval Command Western Mindanao (NCWM), menyusul upacara pelepasan di Dermaga Captain Salvo, Pangkalan Angkatan Laut Heracleo Alano, pada 2 Oktober 2026.

Komandan *Offshore Combat Force*, Komodor Lorenzo H. Bolor Jr. PN, memimpin upacara pelepasan yang menandai kembalinya PS-35 ke status operasional setelah rampungnya perbaikan dan pembaruan selama tujuh bulan. Pekerjaan tersebut dilaksanakan oleh Golden Arrow Trading dengan dukungan dari Naval Shipyard, Sea Systems Command, Philippine Navy, serta personel kapal itu sendiri. (The Philippine Fleet)

U.S. Approves $300M Tomahawk Mission-Planning Sale to Australia

10 Oktober 2026

HMAS Brisbane AWD fires a Tomahawk missile off the coast of San Diego, United States (photo: Aus DoD)

The U.S. Department of State has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Australia for purchase of Tomahawk Capability Development and related equipment. The estimated total cost is $300 million.

The Government of Australia has requested to buy Theater Mission Planning Center (TMPC) and associated communications systems; TMPC Mission Planning System (MPS); program management; engineering, training, and logistics services to support the development, procurement, and delivery of the MPS; and other related elements of logistics and program support.  

This proposed sale supports the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States.  Australia is one of our most important allies and is critical to promoting stability and security in the Indo-Pacific and around the world.  Assisting our ally in developing and maintaining a strong and ready self-defense capability advances U.S. national interests.

Tomahawk Block V land attack cruise missile (image: Bandicam)

This proposed sale will improve Australia’s capability to meet current and future threats by enhancing its Tomahawk capability, strengthening its ability to deter regional threats, and improving its homeland defense.  Australia will deepen its interoperability with U.S. maritime forces and other allied forces as well as its ability to contribute to missions of mutual interest.  Australia will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region. 

The principal contractors will be BAE Systems, located in San Diego, California; Tapestry Solutions, located in St. Louis, Missouri; Peraton, located in San Jose, California; and Leidos, located in Virginia Beach, Virginia.  At this time, the U.S. Government is not aware of any offset agreement proposed in connection with this potential sale.  Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor.

(US State Govt)

Pemasangan Rudal Aster 30 Bikin Kapal PPA TNI AL Mampu Tangkis Rudal Balistik

10 Oktober 2026

Kapal PPA  Giovanni delle Bande Nere (P 434) ketika berlatih menembakkan rudal permukaan-ke-udara ASTER 30 (photo: Marina Militare)

Lompatan Teknologi TNI AL: Rudal Aster 30 Bikin Kapal PPA Mampu Tangkis Rudal Balistik

Paris, IDM – Pemasangan rudal Aster 30 pada dua kapal perang Pattugliatore Polivalente d’Altura (PPA) bakal mendongkrak kemampuan pertahanan udara TNI AL. Senjata ini menggeser kapasitas tempur armada laut Indonesia dari perlindungan jarak dekat menjadi penangkis rudal balistik (anti-ballistic missile).

Head of Naval Systems MBDA, Stefano Bertuzzi, menyebut Aster 30 sebagai satu-satunya amunisi di portofolio perusahaan yang sanggup merontokkan ancaman rudal balistik di udara.

“Satu-satunya senjata yang kami punya untuk mengatasi ancaman rudal balistik cuma Aster. Kami tidak punya senjata lain untuk kebutuhan itu,” kata Bertuzzi di Paris, Prancis, Senin (5/10).

Bertuzzi menjelaskan, kemampuan mencegat rudal balistik butuh pemandu berakurasi tinggi. Pengembangan varian terbaru Aster 30 B1NT membekali rudal dengan komponen pencari sasaran (seeker) berbasis gelombang radio frekuensi tinggi (Ku-band) buatan Thales.

“Pengembangan utama pada B1NT ada di bagian pemandunya. Kami mengganti pemandu lama dengan seeker radio gelombang Ku-band buatan Thales. Perubahan ini meningkatkan akurasi tembakan secara signifikan,” ujar Bertuzzi.

Rudal Aster 30 versi standar mempunyai jangkauan 100-120 km (photo: Seaforces)

Ia menambahkan, varian B1NT bahkan sanggup memburu sasaran balistik hingga jarak 1.500 kilometer. Kehadiran pemandu baru tersebut membuat rudal lebih responsif menyasar objek bergerak cepat.

“Varian B1NT dirancang mampu mencegat sasaran balistik sampai jarak 1.500 kilometer. Jadi, Aster memang solusi utama untuk menangkal rudal balistik,” tutur Bertuzzi.

Meski punya kemampuan teruji, pemboyongan rudal ini harus berhadapan dengan ketatnya antrean produksi di Eropa. MBDA memberlakukan aturan prioritas pemesanan (first contract, first served), yang menempatkan pemesan awal seperti Prancis dan Italia di daftar teratas. Pembuatan komponen seeker Thales sendiri butuh waktu di atas dua tahun.

Pemerintah Indonesia sebenarnya sudah mengincar amunisi penangkis serangan udara ini sejak 10 tahun lalu. Keputusan memboyong dua kapal PPA, KRI Brawijaya-320 dan KRI Prabu Siliwangi-321, dari galangan Fincantieri Italia kini membuka jalan bagi MBDA dan Indonesia untuk menuntaskan negosiasi kontrak rudal Aster 30.

(IDM)

Australia Receives Second Tranche of HIMARS Launchers

09 Oktober 2026

M142 HIMARS easy to deployed by airlift or sealift (photos: Aus DoD)

Albanese Government continues to strengthen Army's long-range strike capability

The Australian Army has further expanded its fleet of High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers, as the Albanese Government continues to strengthen Australia’s long‑range strike capability.

Just one year after taking delivery of its first tranche of HIMARS the Australian has received a second tranche of HIMARS units from the United States, significantly enhancing the capability of Army’s 10th Fires Brigade long-range fires regiment, based in Adelaide. This delivery was achieved two years ahead of schedule. 

The milestone follows the Albanese Government’s announcement in April of an additional investment in HIMARS and Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM) through the establishment of a second long-range fires regiment. This will significantly enhance the ADF’s ability to engage targets at ranges of up to 500kms, transforming to more than 1,000kms with future increments of PrSM.

Today's announcement adds to the Australian Defence Force’s growing long-range strike capability, which at its peak will see up to 90 HIMARS units in service over the coming years across Army's first and second long-range fires regiments within the 10th Fires Brigade. 

This capability was demonstrated on Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, where Australia successfully fired a PrSM two years ahead of schedule.

Earlier this year, the first Australian-manufactured Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS) missile was also successfully test-fired from an Australian HIMARS, and last year Australia and the United States established a cooperative PrSM program, paving the way for future domestic production.

Through the 2026 National Defence Strategy and Integrated Investment Program, the Government is investing up to $37 billion to develop and enhance Defence’s long-range strike capabilities, and up to $36 billion over the decade to accelerate the Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Enterprise.

As part of these investments, the Albanese Government is committed to developing a sovereign guided weapon manufacturing industry in Australia, strengthening our sovereign supply chain resilience and creating greater opportunities for Australian industry.

Missile production is already underway for the first time since the early 1970s at a new facility in South Australia, with a second factory set to open next year near Newcastle in New South Wales.

Quotes attributable to Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles:

“These highly mobile systems are an incredibly important platform and the delivery of these additional units represents a significant leap in capability for the Australian Army.

“Our investments in Australia’s long-range strike capabilities are about equipping the ADF with the equipment it needs to keep Australians safe.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy:

“These new deliveries demonstrate our continued commitment to accelerate the acquisition of HIMARS, which are now on track to be fully operational four years ahead of schedule.

“The Albanese Government is investing up to $37 billion over the next decade on targeting and long-range strike capabilities for the Australian Defence Force.

“In addition, the Government is establishing a sovereign guided weapon manufacturing industry, manufacturing Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) missiles here in Australia, with plans to expand this to include the co-production of the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM). 

“This will provide Australian Army HIMARS regiments access to Australian-manufactured munitions, strengthening our sovereign industrial capability and enhancing supply chain resilience.” 

(Aus DoD)