Antimonopoly Agency approves creation of Rheinmetall, KNDS and Thales joint venture

 The Federal Anti-cartel Agency has approved plans by three arms manufacturers - Rheinmetall, KNDS and Thales - to establish a joint venture based in Germany. 

"We are increasingly seeing cooperation projects between various European companies," the Reuters news agency quoted Andreas Mundt, president of the Bonn-based antimonopoly authority, as saying on Friday, April 4. According to the experts, "Rheinmetall and KNDS' previous fields of activity largely complement each other," and therefore their unification is acceptable. Rheinmetall, KNDS Germany, KNDS France and Thales will each receive 25 percent of the shares in the company developing the new generation MGCS (Main Ground Combat System) battle tank. The companies signed a shareholder agreement with MGCS Project Company GmbH, based in Cologne, in Paris at the end of January, Reuters recalls. The aim of the Franco-German weapons program is to replace the main battle tanks - the German Leopard 2 and the French Leclerc - with a single ground combat system by 2040.

Eureka Naval Craft and Greenroom Robotics presented a new project for a fast modular military vessel AIRCAT Bengal MC

 

The American defense company Eureka Naval Craft and Australian autonomy specialists Greenroom Robotics have presented a new project for a fast modular military vessel, the AIRCAT Bengal MC, capable of performing autonomous operations and launching missiles.

The AIRCAT Bengal MC is a 36—meter Surface Effect ship positioned as a multi-purpose platform combining high speed, significant payload capacity and advanced software tools for autonomy. This ship is capable of speeds in excess of 50 knots (depending on cargo) and has a cruising range of up to 1,000 nautical miles. It can carry up to 40 tons of cargo, equivalent to two 40-foot ISO modules, and can be used for various missions, including launching Tomahawk cruise missiles and anti-ship missiles.

The ship can be operated both with a crew and in a fully autonomous mode. It can also be used as a transport vessel for amphibious assault, drones, electronic warfare, and mine operations.

The ship's autonomous capabilities are provided by GAMA (Greenroom Advanced Maritime Autonomy) software from Greenroom Robotics. This software has already been successfully tested on the Australian patrol ship Sentinel and provides an advanced system for autonomous navigation, situational awareness and fleet coordination.

The Bengal MC AIRCAT project will be presented at the upcoming Sea Air and Space exhibition in Maryland. Eureka Naval Craft Company plans to offer this ship to the US Navy, the US Marine Corps, as well as US allies, including the AUKUS and NATO countries.

UFO in the sky over Colorado, USA

 UFO in the sky over Colorado, USA, captured on 03/25/2025.