Military Vehicles, Ordnance, Munitions, Ammunition & Small Arms

NICOSIA, Cyprus - The Cypriot government is seeking to acquire Merkava main battle tanks from the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), according to a report in the Jerusalem Post.

Talks over the tank have not been officially confirmed and the Israeli government is reportedly divided on the potential sale, with some arguing the Merkavas in storage should remain available to the IDF rather than exported.

The IDF presently maintains a fleet of around 400 Merkava 4s on active duty, with hundreds more Merkavas of older generations in storage.

Cyprus had previously reached out to Israel about a purchase of second-hand Merkavas from the IDF, but those negotiations stalled after the Hamas October 7 attacks and subsequent war. Cyprus has also considered other options for its main battle tank requirement, including the Greek Leopard 1A5 fleet, which aims to replace the T-80s in service with the Cypriot National Guard.

Defense ties between Israel and Cyprus have deepened in recent years. In 2024, the country took delivery of Barak-MX air-defense systems from Israel Aerospace Industries. Cyprus has also ordered drones from Israel.

Source: The Jerusalem Post
Associated URL: https://www.jpost.com/defense-and-tech/article-905462

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA -- Hanwha was selected as a preferred bidder for a KRW 164.2 billion program to develop an advanced course correction fuze for the K9 Thunder. The project will run through 2032 in cooperation with South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).

The course correction fuze will turn the K9's conventional 155mm artillery rounds into more precise munitions by correcting their trajectory after firing.

Source: Defence Industry Europe
Associated URL: https://defence-industry.eu/hanwha-to-develop-gps-guided-fuze-for-k9-artillery-targeting-sixfold-reduction-in-155mm-shell-impact-dispersion-by-2032/

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Army is seeking industry proposals to produce 133,014 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rockets by 2034, reflecting efforts to replenish depleted precision-munition stockpiles. The plan calls for production of 19,002 rockets annually from 2028 through 2034, with deliveries beginning in February 2030.

The contract would cover unitary, alternative-warhead, and extended-range GMLRS variants, as well as tooling and engineering support. Current manufacturer Lockheed Martin is expanding capacity to 14,000 rockets annually, meaning the Army’s target would require roughly 36 percent additional capacity. GMLRS rockets are launched from M270 MLRS and M142 HIMARS platforms and have ranges of up to 70 kilometers, or 150 kilometers for the extended-range variant.

Heavy use of GMLRS in Ukraine, combined with U.S. operations involving Iran, has reduced stockpiles. Replenishment faces further challenges from shortages of solid rocket motors, highlighting broader constraints on U.S. munitions production.

Source: Defense News
Associated URL: https://www.defensenews.com/news/your-military/2026/08/18/us-army-requests-133000-gmlrs-rockets-by-2034/
Author: Michael Peck