Here is a collection of news stories from Jane’s IHS.  Click on the title to go to the article.

French Army Leclerc upgrade gets under way

Nexter Systems is moving forward with the upgrade of the French Army Leclerc main battle tanks (MBT) and armoured recovery vehicles (ARV).

In March 2015, the French Procurement Agency, the DGA, awarded Nexter Systems a EUR300 million (USD339.5 million) contract covering 200 Renovated Leclerc MBTs and 18 Renovated Leclerc ARV.

RUAG Defence develops upgraded M109

RUAG Defence has developed an enhanced version of the M109 155 mm self-propelled (SP) artillery system aimed at the export market. The company has already upgraded 348 Swiss Army M109sto the Pz Hb 88/95 standard, which represent the only SP artillery deployed by the Swiss Army.  Among the improvements are a modified turret and the use of locally manufactured 155 mm/47 calibre chrome plated ordnance in place of the original 155 mm/39 calibre type. This offers an extended range and has a burst rate of fire of three rounds in 15 seconds due to the installation of a flick rammer.

SAGEM Paseo enters production

SAGEM is producing its Paseo modular advanced stabilised sighting (MASS) system for an undisclosed export customer. The Paseo MASS has already been shown fitted to CMI Defence Cockerill’s 3030/40 and 3105 turrets on a General Dynamics European Land Systems MOWAG Desert Piranha 5 8×8 armoured fighting vehicle (AFV).  That fit features two Paseo MASS systems installed on the right side of the turret mounted one above the other, the top unit for the commander and the lower one for the gunner.

Belarus develops Adunok RWS

The Design Office Display of Belarus has developed a new version of its Adunok remote-controlled weapon station (RCWS) designated Adunok-W.

While the original Adunok RCWS was armed with a single 7.62 mm PKT machine gun (MG), 12.7 mm Kord (MG), or a 30 mm AG-17A automatic grenade launcher (AGL), the Adunok-W is armed with a Russian 12.7 mm NSVT MG on the right and a 30 mm AG-17A AGL on the left. The 12.7 mm MG is provided with 100 rounds of ready-use ammunition, while the 30 mm AGL has 50 rounds. Ammunition is fed from the right for both weapons.

Vietnam may update Soviet era ASU-85s

Officials from the Minotor-Service Corporation of Belarus attending the Defense Services Asia (DSA) 2016 exhibition told IHS Jane’s that Vietnamese officials had expressed “strong interest” in purchasing Minotor’s upgrade package for their ASU-85 airborne self-propelled anti-tank guns (SPATGs).

Minotor’s upgrade package includes a new more powerful diesel engine powerpack that would increase speed from 45 to 60 km/h and range from 400 km to 450 km.

Russia to develop new BTR-87 APC

Russia is developing the new BTR-87 armoured personnel carrier (APC), the Director General of Military-Industrial Company (VPK), Alexander Krasovitsky, told IHS Jane’sat Defence Services Asia 2016 exhibition at Kuala Lumpur.

“BTR-87 features rear apparel [ramp], new internal layout, and more comfortable seats for the crew and mounted soldiers. The vehicle’s engine is located in the front part. The new APC could hardly be defined as the modification of previously developed BTR-82A APC. It is a new vehicle. A BTR-82A can be converted to a BTR-87, but such conversion is not expedient,” Krasovitsky said. He mentioned that the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has shown keen interest in the new APC, although VPK is developing BTR-87 on its own initiative.