Military news January 17: The US expands Patriot upgrades as options for developing new air defense weapons systems are too expensive and uncertain in terms of effectiveness.
The US Congress doubled the financial resources allocated to upgrade the Patriot system; the B-52 "Flying Fortress" will continue to serve for decades to come... are the contents of today's world military news.
US Congress doubles funding allocation for Patriot system upgrades
According to Army Recognition Magazine, the US Congress has approved more than $505 million in federal funds to purchase and modernize Patriot air defense systems (SAMs) and Stinger man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) in fiscal year 2025.
The US Army initially requested $250 million in funding to modernize its air defense systems. The doubled amount reflects the strategic importance of these systems in modern conditions.
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| The US will upgrade the Patriot to integrate with the THAAD system and other battlefield air defense weapons. Photo: Defense News |
Army Recognition quoted information from the US Army posted: "Additional resources will significantly enhance the capabilities of the Patriot and Stinger systems, accelerate their acquisition and modernization to match the requirements of the modern battlefield."
In October 2024, US Army Major General Frank Lozano announced that the Pentagon had decided to abandon plans to develop a new generation of air defense missiles for the Patriot system. Due to high development costs, the military plans to focus on integrating the Patriot with the THAAD missile defense system and upgrading the existing PAC-3 MSE missile.
Patriot is a Cold War product developed by the US Raytheon Corporation with the goal of creating a multi-purpose air defense weapon and a counterweight to the S-300 air defense missile family of the Soviet Union and Russia.
Patriot is a multi-purpose long-range air defense missile system (maximum range from 70 to 160 km), capable of operating in all weather conditions with a target ceiling of up to 24 km.
With the growth and expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Patriot missile system quickly became one of the popular air defense weapons of this military bloc and its allies. It has undergone many major upgrades with popular variants such as PAC-2 and PAC-3, of which the PAC-3 variant is famous for its ability to intercept short- and medium-range ballistic missiles of the enemy. Patriot is currently a component of the US theater missile defense system (BMD).
US modernizes B-52 "flying fortress"
The new F130 engines that will power the US Air Force's upgraded B-52J strategic bombers have been tested. According to The National Interest, the upgrade process is now complete.
“The US Air Force’s newest B-52 variant has just reached another important milestone. The bomber’s F130 engine has passed a critical design test,” writes The National Interest.
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| The B-52J bomber will serve the US Air Force for decades to come. Photo: Getty |
The new jet engine will be the main difference between the B-52J and previous versions of the aircraft. The B-52 modernization program has been about three years behind schedule for various reasons.
In addition to the new engine, the B-52J version will receive upgraded radar and advanced cockpit displays. It is believed that the aircraft could become a carrier for the Hypersonic Strike Cruise Missile (HACM).
The only problem with the updated B-52J is the time it will take to roll it out and enter service, The National Interest reported in October 2024. The B-52Js will enter service no earlier than 2033.
Slovakia considers replacing all old Soviet-era tanks
Slovakia's Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Robert Kaliniak said he is considering the possibility of replacing Soviet-made tanks with Swedish combat vehicles.
According to the Defense News military website, one of the alternatives to the T-72M1 tank could be the CV90120 infantry fighting vehicle produced by Hägglunds. Mr. Kalinyak is confident that buying combat vehicles from Sweden will be much cheaper than buying Leopard-2 tanks from the German manufacturer KNDS.
In February 2024, Defense News reported that Leonardo plans to add new equipment and self-produced gun barrels to the German Leopard-2 tank design ordered by the Italian Army.
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| Slovakia is considering scrapping old Soviet tanks and replacing them with modern infantry fighting vehicles. Photo: Getty |
The CV90120 infantry fighting vehicle will compete with other tracked vehicles being considered by the Slovak Ministry of Defense, including the new Leopard-2A8 tank from German manufacturer KNDS or the 2A4 models that will later be modernized by Slovakia.
Mr Kalinyak claimed that purchasing the CV90120 would cost significantly less than purchasing the Leopard-2A8. Slovakia has not purchased new tanks since the collapse of Czechoslovakia in 1993 and needs to replace its aging Soviet-built T-72M1s. After the outbreak of the Ukrainian conflict, Slovakia received 15 Leopard-2A4 tanks from Berlin in exchange for BVP-1 infantry fighting vehicles supplied to Kiev.
“The CV90120 is an interesting proposal because it uses the same platform as the CV90 that Slovakia will use but is equipped with more powerful weapons. However, it is a light vehicle, unlike the heavy Leopard tank which weighs twice as much,” said former Slovak Defense Minister Jaroslav Nagy, who called the choice of infantry fighting vehicles instead of tanks a mistake.
Source: https://congthuong.vn/ban-tin-quan-su-171-my-mo-rong-nang-cap-patriot-370048.html
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