Enduring Shield To Protect Troops From Cruise Missiles

The U.S. Army has been working on a new ground-based air defense system to fill the gap between short-range systems and the larger Patriot and THAAD air and missile defense systems. The original Multi-Mission Launcher (MML) program sought to develop a system capable of firing a variety of interceptors and linking with the Army’s Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS) and Sentinel radars. The MML, developed by the Army, was canceled in 2019. In 2021, Dynetics unveiled the Enduring Shield system, which built on the MML.

The U.K. is developing a new active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar for its Eurofighter Typhoon jets. The European Common Radar System Mk 2 (ECRS Mk 2) is designed to simultaneously detect, identify and track targets in the air and on the ground and provide electronic attack and electronic warfare capabilities for suppression/destruction of enemy air defense (SEAD/DEAD) missions. It shares some components with the Typhoon’s original CAPTOR radar, but its hardware is not common with that radar or its ECRS Mk 0 and Mk 1 variants.

The Lionfish is a new family of small caliber, remotely operated naval weapon stations offered by Italian firm Leonardo. There are three variants armed with a 12.7-mm machine gun and one equipped with a 20-mm cannon. The Mini-Calibri electro-optical fire-control system is fitted. The Lionfish is intended to combat evolving asymmetric threats, helicopters and drones. A local remote-control console has a 17-inch touchscreen and two multifunction joysticks. The system can autonomously determine firing coordinates. It is designed so that it does not penetrate the hull of the host vessel.

Other new maritime records this month include the Japanese Type 12 coastal defense missile system, which is being upgraded into a long-range missile as part of efforts to develop a Japanese counterstrike capability. The Iranian Valfajr 21-inch torpedo, which equips its Ghadir-class miniature submarines, has been added to the database.

There are new records for the Israeli Sky Dew aerostat, Italian Airborne Tactical Observation System (ATOS) intelligence-fusion system and the U.S. AN/APG-82 AESA radar for the F-15E Strike Eagle fighter. The European CAPTOR radar for the Eurofighter Typhoon has been updated along with the records for the venerable AV-8B Harrier fighter and Swiss Ranger uncrewed aerial vehicle.

The latest on Central African Republic, which continues to battle Muslim and Christian rebels, is now available. South Sudan, which saw increasing violence in 2022, has also been updated along with the order of battle for Suriname in South America.

China has made significant advances in modernizing its defense industry over the last two decades. Beijing showed off these gains at its latest Air Show China in Zhuhai in November. Reuben Johnson has the story in “The Dragon Shows Its Claws.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed a variety of social and government failures over the last three years. Andy Oppenheimer reviews the situation in “Protecting Against A Pandemic.”

Sincerely,

Jeremiah Cushman
Senior Editor
Military Periscope