What's New

Rheinmetall's Mission Master is a unique family of Autonomous Unmanned Ground Vehicles (A-UGVs) designed to support military troops in dangerous missions, difficult terrain, and hostile weather conditions. Mission Master platforms can be fitted for tactical overwatch, fire support, medical evacuation, CBRN detection, communication relay, and other missions that may require the support of an A-UGV. The system can carry a standard payload of 2,204 lb (1,000 kg).

The Mission Master SP was the first UGV to be developed by Rheinmetall Canada in 2017 and has since been deployed in multiple live military exercises by land forces, including the German, U.S., Dutch, and Polish armies. Rheinmetall announced on April 8, 2024, that it had been tapped to deliver three Mission Master SP stealth UGVs to Japan for testing in January 2025, marking the first autonomous vehicles tested by the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force.

Peru’s state-owned Servicios Industriales de la Marina (SIMA) shipyard is nearing completion of the last of two planned landing platform docks (LPDs), dubbed the PISCO class. These 8,047-ton, 400-ft (122.0-m) ships are designed for transportation of military and humanitarian equipment including 24 amphibious or infantry fighting vehicles and either 13 heavy trucks or 18 tanks along with 450 embarked troops. Medical equipment, fuel, food and fresh water can also be carried to remote or disaster-struck regions. The ships are equipped with several indigenously-designed Peruvian systems including the navy’s Mage QHAWAX electronic support system and Varayoc combat management system.

Designed with support from South Korea’s Dae Sun Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, the class reflects a significant inroad for Seoul’s defense footprint in Latin America. While the lead ship, PISCO, entered service in 2018, the second vessel, PAITA has yet to make its eagerly awaited debut. SIMA released photos in May 2024 showing significant progress on the ship, leading to speculation that PAITA will be delivered by early next year.

Iran has for years sought to develop its local defense industry, and electronics are no exception. The Islamic Republic proudly announced the development of the Asr, its first three-dimensional, passive electronically scanned array, phased array naval radar just a day before its National Day celebration in November 2013. Despite the fanfare that surrounded its expected 2014 delivery, this system has seemed conspicuously limited in its deployment. Supposedly capable of tracking up to 100 targets at a range of 110 nm (200.0 km), the Asr reflects a milestone for Iranian defense industry, though has only been confirmedly installed on the JAMARAN or MOUDGE class of corvettes, one of which, the SAHAND capsized on July 9, forcing ongoing repairs. While the Asr may be viewed as a developmental or test system or may be quietly installed or planned for installation on other vessels, it has so far been curiously out of sight in Tehran’s naval posturing.