Borsuk IFV programme marks turning point for Poland’s armoured modernisation
The Borsuk vehicles are to replace the Soviet-designed BMP-1 as the Polish military’s main tracked Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV).
Lockheed Martin received a $230,000 US Air Force contract to define requirements for a weapon that uses high-power microwave energy beams instead of explosives to take out enemy electronic systems. The Non-Kinetic Counter Electronics Capability (NKCE) contract will lead to a new type of weapon that will destroy electronic equipment without endangering personnel.
The contract, awarded by the US Air Force Air Armament Center at Eglin Air Force Base, FL, calls for the development of an operations concept for the NKCE system, along with a mission planning strategy. Lockheed Martin will deliver its findings to the US Air Force during the first quarter of 2011.
The contract also involves the development of system requirements and a concept of packaging the high-power microwave source system into an aerial platform. In addition, Lockheed Martin will identify hardening strategies to ensure system survivability in heavily defended areas.
"This type of weapon is completely non-lethal, so we can take out specific electronic targets deep within an enemy's infrastructure without concern for human collateral damage," said Tom Remenick, Advanced Programs manager at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "The ability to specifically render the enemy's electronic equipment useless will give our Warfighters a distinctive advantage in any conflict."
When fielded, the weapon would require an aerial delivery platform for operational flexibility and the ability to engage multiple targets per mission. The system would be aimed at buildings or other structures containing identified electronic equipment that high-power microwave bursts would quickly render useless.
Source: Lockheed Martin
The Borsuk vehicles are to replace the Soviet-designed BMP-1 as the Polish military’s main tracked Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV).
The package of three standalone follow-on contracts makes this the largest contract won by the Australian company and larger than its total 2024 revenue.
Patria quotes a maximum rate of fire of eight rounds a minute from the new ARVE (ARtillery on VEhicle) self-propelled gun with a range of 40km for an assisted round. The rapid, low-risk development is designed to meet emerging requirements which have arisen out of the Ukraine war.
The termination of programmes such as JLTV and RCV has been harshly criticised by members of the US Congress.
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This recent purchase of the medium-range air defence system adds to the country’s ongoing efforts to ramp up its overall defence readiness and capabilities.