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Timely Defenders: Keeping Patriots in Shape

Timely Defenders: Keeping Patriots in Shape

Patriot system The USA’s MIM-104 Phased Array Tracking Radar Intercept On Target (PATRIOT) anti-air missile system offers an advanced backbone for medium-range air defense, and short-range ballistic missile defense, to America and its allies. This article covers...
NH90: Europe’s Medium Helicopter Gets New Order Despite Issues

NH90: Europe’s Medium Helicopter Gets New Order Despite Issues

NH90: TTH & NFH (click to view full) The NH90 emerged from a requirement that created a NATO helicopter development and procurement agency in 1992 and, at almost the same time, established NH Industries (62.5% EADS Eurocopter, 32.5% AgustaWestland, and 5% Stork...
Naval Swiss Army Knife: MK 41 Vertical Missile Launch Systems (VLS)

Naval Swiss Army Knife: MK 41 Vertical Missile Launch Systems (VLS)

MK 41s in action (click to view full) The naval MK 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) hides missiles below decks in vertical slots, with key electronics and venting systems built in. A deck and hatch assembly at the top of the module protects the missile canisters...
France’s Rafale

France’s Rafale

Dassault Rafale (click for cutaway view) Will Dassault’s fighter become a fashionably late fighter platform that builds on its parent company’s past successes – or just “the late Rafale”? It all began as a 1985 break-away from the...
The JAS-39 Gripen: Sweden’s 4+ Generation Wild Card

The JAS-39 Gripen: Sweden’s 4+ Generation Wild Card

South African JAS-39D (click to view full) As a neutral country with a long history of providing for its own defense against all comers, Sweden also has a long tradition of building excellent high-performance fighters with a distinctive look. From the long-serving...