Worldwide Aeros promises to revolutionise military heavy-lift operations with its massive Aeroscraft cargo airships, and a half-scale demonstration model successfully proved the concept when it left its hangar and conducted a tethered flight last year. A fleet of 22 Aeroscraft capable of carrying up to 250 tons of cargo each is now being planned with joint military and civil applications.

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The British Army could soon relax its rules preventing women joining elite frontline units like the Parachute Regiment or the legendary Special Air Service (SAS). That’s according to a recent report by the Sunday Times, which says a decision on lifting the ban could come as soon as this week.

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In this issue: Boosting European land defences against Russian tanks, innovative body armour from head to toe, the British Army’s contribution to the Bloodhound supersonic car, missile defence for commercial airliners, the benefits of quantity vs quality in modern naval fleets, and more

The post Global Defence Technology: Issue 45 appeared first on Army Technology.

After decades of bitter fighting during the Vietnam War, the US and communist-run Vietnam are now forging closer political, economic and military ties. The US partially lifted a weapons ban in October and Vietnam could soon become a big market for American weapons. The reason for this reconciliation? China.

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The UK handed over Camp Bastion to the Afghan National Army, the US was assessing claims that the Islamic State has man-portable air-defence systems in its weapon arsenal, and the Human Rights Watch alleged that the Ukrainian security forces fired cluster munitions in populated areas in Donetsk. Army-technology.com wraps up the key headlines from October.

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Governments often recruit private military and security companies to bolster regular troops and support services, and they were used extensively in Iraq and Afghanistan. While considered a cost-saving measure in times of defence cuts, their use and accountability raises ethical questions and strains ‘hearts and minds’ relations, as occurred in the 2007 Blackwater Baghdad shootings.

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Next year, a team of British engineers led by Richard Noble aim to break the current land speed record with a jet and rocket-powered car called Bloodhound SSC. The team could smash the current record of 763mph, set in 1997, with a blistering 1,000mph run in South Africa. In a unique partnership, the British Army has joined with the Bloodhound project to make this dream a reality.

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In this edition of Latest In Defence, Lockheed Martin develops a new type of live-fire training range; Sikorsky releases a simulation of how its futuristic S-97 Raider multi-mission helicopter could operate; and BAE Systems builds a new, improved – and bigger – version of its River class offshore patrol vessels for the Royal Navy.

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Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the withdrawal of NATO forces from Afghanistan has seen military planners are reassess their approach to future land warfare. Instead of fighting insurgents, western armies could soon come up against tanks or well-organised foot soldiers. It’s for this reason – dubbed ‘the Putin effect’ by some – that several countries are looking to boost the lethality of their armoured vehicles to properly reflect these shifting strategic priorities.

The post The Putin effect – increasing armoured vehicle lethality with anti-tank missiles appeared first on Army Technology.

The Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting and Exposition was held in Washington DC this week. Spanning three days, it’s one of the biggest land warfare expos in the world with manufacturers keen to show off their latest products and military officials on the look out for new tech. If you couldn’t make it, we’ve identified some of the most notable equipment on display this year.

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