APCs and missiles: Germany’s big purchase, and the connection to Rafael

The German army is purchasing 200 APCs with launchers made by Rafael

The German army ordered 200 new Puma APCs that are equipped with MELLS systems, the European variant of the LR spike missiles manufactured by Rafael. MELLS is produced by the Eurospike company, a joint venture of Rafael (20%) with the German companies Diehl and Rheinmetall, which each own 40%. The platform of the new Pumas is designed to carry nine crew members and six additional soldiers.

The Spike series includes a wide range of models, adapted to diverse ranges and platforms. The light Tact model (Spike SR) weighs about 10 kg, is carried on a shoulder and is intended for ranges of up to 2 km. At the other end is an NLOS spike known as Tamuz, which weighs about 71 kg, is capable of hitting a target from a distance of up to 32 km, and is launched from land, air or sea platforms. However, the highest demands in the world are for the LR spike models (for a range of 4 km), and the LR22 spike, which is able to reach a range of 5.5 km from the ground and 10 km from the air.

The advantage of implementing MELLS in the Puma platform is that the tool does not need to be visible to the enemy in order to hit him, a critical issue on the modern battlefield. The broad armor strategy of the German General Staff entails a large-scale and diverse firepower. In a world where FPV drones become significant threats to armored forces, the relevance of the Spike family in general and the LR model in particular remains the same, because the ranges of the missiles are greater than those of the drones.

The headphone company from Netanya that sells audio systems to Asia

The headphone company Cilinxcom which is traded on the New York Stock Exchange, announced last week the sale of tactical audio systems to a client in Asia for approximately 3 million dollars. This transaction was part of an extensive tender by that country, which wanted to strengthen itself in the field of tactical communication systems in which the company from Israel specializes.

The order includes several Silinixcom products, including a tactical in-ear headset system, designed to improve situational awareness, cancel noise, and enable optimal integration between the warriors on the battlefield. This is not the first order of the Israeli company in the growing Asian market, when apparently the satisfaction of certain customers led to wider interest.

Similar to many Israeli defense companies, Cilinxcom’s products have been proven on the battlefield of various security forces, including armies, police and various types of training. The company’s headphones integrate with many manufacturers of communication systems, and are durable in the complicated battle environment. The headphones can be installed into protective equipment such as helmets, thus optimizing the work of combat.

India supplies new armored vehicles to Morocco

The Indian company Tata completed the first shipment to the Moroccan army of WhAP 8×8 armored personnel carriers, as part of a broad transaction between the parties. The armored vehicle designed to carry fighters and logistical supplies is the product of Tata’s development with DRDO, the defense research and development body of the Indian government (the counterpart of the Defense Ministry and SBT), which often cooperates with Israel. The agreement with Morocco is intriguing because if the international defense industries were used to the Make in India program of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, here the Indians actually chose to manufacture in Morocco.

This year, Tata established a production facility near Casablanca, over an area of ​​approximately 20,000 square meters – the largest defense site in the country. Tata stated that their plan was aimed at creating a broader defense industrial cooperation than a specific deal. The mutual goal is to take local personnel, train them, and create a Moroccan supply chain as independent as possible.

While Tatas operate outside the country, DRDO continues to promote Indian domestic independence – and has completed a successful trial of the locally produced Akash-NG air defense system. The series of experiments included dealing with high-speed threats, unmanned aerial vehicles, and long-range targets. Akash is intended to be one of several systems that will be integrated into India’s multi-layered air defense system, which is expected to also include the Barak system of the Aerospace Industry.