In this episode of The Weekly Defence Podcast, the Shephard team looks at the global MLRS market, focusing on current programmes and platform upgrades; and in an interview with the Digital Ground Forces Division of the IDF, we discuss its Tzaid programme, also known as Torch.

Newsround [ 00:56] 

Turkish defence companies Ares Shipyard and Meteksan unveiled the new anti-submarine warfare variant of the ULAQ unmanned surface vehicle family on 23 April. 

Australia got one step closer to receiving its first UCAV after the US State Department approved a potential $1.65 billion FMS package for up to 12 weapons-ready MQ-9B SkyGuardian aircraft.

The US Army in Europe is adopting Li-Fi optical wireless communication technology that uses the visible light, ultraviolet and IR spectra to transmit data.

UK-based pureLiFi will provide its Kitefin system to US Army Europe and Africa in what the company described as ‘the world’s first large-scale deployment’ of the technology.

In Focus

A week on from the sinking of the Nangala Cakra-class (Type 209) Indonesian submarine north of the coast of Bali, News Editor Ben Vogel and Senior Reporter Tim Fish look at submarine safety and consider the wider implications the incident will have on the Indonesian Navy.

This week also marks a key moment for the Spanish Army as after a decade-long wait, Spanish shipbuilder Navantia launched the first of four S-80A Plus submarines and could be ready to deliver the new platforms from 2023. 

In news from the air desk, Air Editor Tim Martin discusses Finland’s progress on the HX programme. Helsinki is getting closer to selecting an aircraft for its €9.4 billion ($11.4 billion) HX fighter competition after receiving best and final offers from five competitors.

And the testing of IFV contenders for the Czech Army programmes begun this week with the service initiating tests of three IFVs on 26 April.  

Deep Dive – Global Market of MLRS [23:20] 

Senior Land Analyst Sunny Butterworth discusses updates, replacements and the wider global market for multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS). 

Interview – IDF [41:48]

Tim Fish is on the line with Major Amos Shor, Head of the Digital Ground Forces Division, Ground-Forces Weaponry Branch of the IDF, for a conversation about the Tzaid programme, also known as Torch. 

This episode was produced by Noemi Distefano with music and sound mixing by Fred Prest.