UK MoD unveils first steps for British Army Watchkeeper replacement
Project Corvus will look for a replacement for the Watchkeeper Mk1 uncrewed aerial system (UAS) that was retired from service in the British Army in March 2025.
Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace on 1 December announced a second follow-on contract to supply its Joint Strike Missile (JSM) to the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF).
The contract is worth NOK820 million ($92.98 million).
Kongsberg described JSM as a ‘5th generation stealth air-to surface missile’, developed for the F-35A to plug ASuW and land attack capability gaps. Shephard Defence Insight notes that the 525kg JSM is 3.95m long and has a range of 280km.
The missile can be carried internally to retain the low radar cross-section of the F-35A.
Kongsberg signed the original contract in March 2019 (plus a follow-on deal eight months later) to supply JSM for the JASDF F-35A fleet.
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Project Corvus will look for a replacement for the Watchkeeper Mk1 uncrewed aerial system (UAS) that was retired from service in the British Army in March 2025.
The Swedish Government has asked parliament to authorise two possible export sales as part of its 2025 Spring amending budget bill.
Contracts for the procurement of two platforms have been signed, and will be tested by the German armed forces.
The company has been negotiating the supply of TCTS II to US allies and partners.
The second and third Airbus A330 MRTT for the Spanish Air Force have been undergoing conversion in Getafe, Madrid.
The two countries have already signed defence industrial partnerships in recent years, most recently between Republikorp and Turkish firm Baykar in February 2025.