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The Age
18-05-2025
- Business
- The Age
Welcome to the era of the ‘affordable' cruise missile
'We are manufacturing guided weapons, rocket assisted take-off for low-cost cruise missiles, and we have the capability to produce in-house and are able to deliver it within a couple of months, not in five years,' Johnson told this masthead. The company, with a staff of 42, manufactures and produces solid rocket motors, as well as customised rocket-assisted take off assemblies, which can launch inexpensive cruise missiles vertically from the ground. Black Sky Industries regularly receives requests for proposals from democracies around the globe, Johnson says. Australia's government understands a shift towards missiles is taking place. The Albanese government is backing sovereign guided-weapon production, having landed a deal for Norway-based Kongsberg to assemble naval and joint strike missiles in Australia. A government deal with Lockheed Martin Australia will allow low-rate production of 300 GMLRS and a full-rate production of the 4000 GMLRS to Australia. But as Johnson explains, in a modern war a few hundred rounds are 'one day of activity – not even a day, a couple of hours'. Loading Black Sky Industries says it's delivering capability for the Australian Defence Force and its allies 'with a focus on scaling geopolitical instability', Johnson says. Looking at what's happening in Ukraine and in the Red Sea, where Iranian-backed Houthis have launched inexpensive Tehran-supplied cruise missiles at passing ships, Johnson says arming for war won't be expensive in future. Sydney-based defence analyst Chris Flaherty said the new crop of cruise missiles used cheaper, more autonomous guidance and no longer required the complex infrastructure for deployment as in the past. 'What we're actually seeing, which I think is causing surprise and shock strategically within the defence community, is how countries can actually come from nowhere and invent a weapon system that actually performs remarkably similar roles to cruise missiles.' The lower cost means more cruise missiles can be produced and launched in swarms. The new strategy means 'mass-producing these weapons as quickly as possible and delivering onto the target to achieve overwhelming force', he said. The trend lines of inexpensive hardware and cheaper, more powerful electronics were in place even before February 2022, when Russia expanded its low-boil war on Ukraine to a full-scale invasion. Weapons-makers can now use off-the-shelf components, 3D printed, modular parts which reduce the complexity of the missile, and also lower labour costs. In turn, this lowers the overall production price, further enabling mass manufacturing of missiles. The cheaper cost of the technology lowers the bar for entry to the cruise missile business, which used to be the domain of great powers which relied on specialised access to satellites, intelligence and complex supporting systems. But Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Iran's supplying of the Houthis with cruise missiles and drones to harass ships in the Red Sea paved a new way. Today, numerous companies are springing up or pivoting to these new cheaper cruise missiles. Anduril Industries, Zone 5 Technologies, CoAspire, Ares Industries, and Ukraine's Trembita homemade cruise missile are examples. At the same time, Ukraine has ramped up its missile production since Russia's invasion in early 2022. After struggling at the start of Russia's invasion to source cruise missiles, Ukraine's minister for strategic industries said last month missile production had expanded 'eightfold' over the previous year. Ukraine's experience is instructive. Iran, China, North Korea have their own ambitious programs, which rely on mass quantities and low costs. It would be reckless for democracies to not follow suit. Anduril Australia says its exploring opportunities to test and build low-cost cruise missiles in Australia. 'Manufacturing affordable cruise missiles at scale is central to achieving resilience and a deterrence effect for the ADF,' said Pete Quinn, vice president of strategy for Anduril Australia. He notes that Australia is 'an ideal testing location because of its world-class ranges and talented Australian workforce'. Affordable mass Cheaper missiles mean more can be made and yet more required to win a battle. Lockheed Martin affordable mass director Scott Callaway says: 'With the strategic environment in the Pacific undergoing notable change, our customers are seeking a new class of low-cost missiles that can be manufactured fast and on demand, so their inventory never runs dry in combat.' Callaway says the new class of missiles has been dubbed 'affordable mass', with the idea being 'they can put a lot more missiles (mass) on target'. The company's common multi-mission truck, or CMMT missile, can be launched by fighters, bombers, airlifters and other air- and ground-launch platforms. The CMMT, also pronounced 'Comet', uses 'modular airframes' that can be sized to accommodate a variety of payloads and engines - employing 3D printed or commercial parts 'to lower cost'. 'Convergence' The modular design, aided by cheaper electronics and 3D-printed parts, enables 'rapid modification' in which new 'seekers, payloads and engines' can be swapped in for whatever the mission requirements, Callaway said. The Iranian Shahed drone, which demonstrated the ease with which unmanned vehicles, inexpensive guidance systems and explosives could be brought together, helped revolutionise the trend of affordable drones and missiles, a difference which has increasingly blurred. Flaherty says there has been a 'convergence' between the concept of cruise missiles and the concept of drones in the past few years. 'If you think in traditional terms, a cruise missile is a particular weapon system arising from a certain date in history,' he said, pointing to the complex launch systems used for Tomahawk missiles. Loading 'If you look now at what's happening in Ukraine, we're starting to see rocket-powered drones that have considerable range capabilities with cruise missile-type qualities.' Such weapons can navigate over terrain, lock on to targets and deliver warheads with precision – the entire original concept behind the cruise missile. Now that these changes are afoot, they could trigger a repricing of whole swaths of weaponry. These shifts toward more information-driven manufacturing allow production itself to be spread across networks that can respond to needs of the war effort. Distributed production Callaway says Lockheed Martin 'can accelerate production and meet combat surge requests by duplicating production cells and standing up multiple production lines in the US and partner nations'. Tapping multiple suppliers, missile assemblies can be built and assembled rapidly. 'We call this distributed production,' said Callaway. The customer can buy a basic kit designed for rapid production that a specialised missile can be built around, Callaway says of the 'Comet'. Changes for Australia As the economics of conflict change, so will threats for Australia. Last year, Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery Pat Conroy gave a speech which outlined the altered world. In World War II, Nazi Germany used V-1 and V-2 guided rockets against Britain. Missiles soon became the subject of strategic thinking during the Cold War, he said, but they have evolved much further since. 'Analysts believe we are now on the cusp of a new Indo-Pacific missile age,' Conroy said. China, North Korea, Russia (also a Pacific power), the US, South Korea are all investing in missile technology.
Sydney Morning Herald
18-05-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Welcome to the era of the ‘affordable' cruise missile
'We are manufacturing guided weapons, rocket assisted take-off for low-cost cruise missiles, and we have the capability to produce in-house and are able to deliver it within a couple of months, not in five years,' Johnson told this masthead. The company, with a staff of 42, manufactures and produces solid rocket motors, as well as customised rocket-assisted take off assemblies, which can launch inexpensive cruise missiles vertically from the ground. Black Sky Industries regularly receives requests for proposals from democracies around the globe, Johnson says. Australia's government understands a shift towards missiles is taking place. The Albanese government is backing sovereign guided-weapon production, having landed a deal for Norway-based Kongsberg to assemble naval and joint strike missiles in Australia. A government deal with Lockheed Martin Australia will allow low-rate production of 300 GMLRS and a full-rate production of the 4000 GMLRS to Australia. But as Johnson explains, in a modern war a few hundred rounds are 'one day of activity – not even a day, a couple of hours'. Loading Black Sky Industries says it's delivering capability for the Australian Defence Force and its allies 'with a focus on scaling geopolitical instability', Johnson says. Looking at what's happening in Ukraine and in the Red Sea, where Iranian-backed Houthis have launched inexpensive Tehran-supplied cruise missiles at passing ships, Johnson says arming for war won't be expensive in future. Sydney-based defence analyst Chris Flaherty said the new crop of cruise missiles used cheaper, more autonomous guidance and no longer required the complex infrastructure for deployment as in the past. 'What we're actually seeing, which I think is causing surprise and shock strategically within the defence community, is how countries can actually come from nowhere and invent a weapon system that actually performs remarkably similar roles to cruise missiles.' The lower cost means more cruise missiles can be produced and launched in swarms. The new strategy means 'mass-producing these weapons as quickly as possible and delivering onto the target to achieve overwhelming force', he said. The trend lines of inexpensive hardware and cheaper, more powerful electronics were in place even before February 2022, when Russia expanded its low-boil war on Ukraine to a full-scale invasion. Weapons-makers can now use off-the-shelf components, 3D printed, modular parts which reduce the complexity of the missile, and also lower labour costs. In turn, this lowers the overall production price, further enabling mass manufacturing of missiles. The cheaper cost of the technology lowers the bar for entry to the cruise missile business, which used to be the domain of great powers which relied on specialised access to satellites, intelligence and complex supporting systems. But Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Iran's supplying of the Houthis with cruise missiles and drones to harass ships in the Red Sea paved a new way. Today, numerous companies are springing up or pivoting to these new cheaper cruise missiles. Anduril Industries, Zone 5 Technologies, CoAspire, Ares Industries, and Ukraine's Trembita homemade cruise missile are examples. At the same time, Ukraine has ramped up its missile production since Russia's invasion in early 2022. After struggling at the start of Russia's invasion to source cruise missiles, Ukraine's minister for strategic industries said last month missile production had expanded 'eightfold' over the previous year. Ukraine's experience is instructive. Iran, China, North Korea have their own ambitious programs, which rely on mass quantities and low costs. It would be reckless for democracies to not follow suit. Anduril Australia says its exploring opportunities to test and build low-cost cruise missiles in Australia. 'Manufacturing affordable cruise missiles at scale is central to achieving resilience and a deterrence effect for the ADF,' said Pete Quinn, vice president of strategy for Anduril Australia. He notes that Australia is 'an ideal testing location because of its world-class ranges and talented Australian workforce'. Affordable mass Cheaper missiles mean more can be made and yet more required to win a battle. Lockheed Martin affordable mass director Scott Callaway says: 'With the strategic environment in the Pacific undergoing notable change, our customers are seeking a new class of low-cost missiles that can be manufactured fast and on demand, so their inventory never runs dry in combat.' Callaway says the new class of missiles has been dubbed 'affordable mass', with the idea being 'they can put a lot more missiles (mass) on target'. The company's common multi-mission truck, or CMMT missile, can be launched by fighters, bombers, airlifters and other air- and ground-launch platforms. The CMMT, also pronounced 'Comet', uses 'modular airframes' that can be sized to accommodate a variety of payloads and engines - employing 3D printed or commercial parts 'to lower cost'. 'Convergence' The modular design, aided by cheaper electronics and 3D-printed parts, enables 'rapid modification' in which new 'seekers, payloads and engines' can be swapped in for whatever the mission requirements, Callaway said. The Iranian Shahed drone, which demonstrated the ease with which unmanned vehicles, inexpensive guidance systems and explosives could be brought together, helped revolutionise the trend of affordable drones and missiles, a difference which has increasingly blurred. Flaherty says there has been a 'convergence' between the concept of cruise missiles and the concept of drones in the past few years. 'If you think in traditional terms, a cruise missile is a particular weapon system arising from a certain date in history,' he said, pointing to the complex launch systems used for Tomahawk missiles. Loading 'If you look now at what's happening in Ukraine, we're starting to see rocket-powered drones that have considerable range capabilities with cruise missile-type qualities.' Such weapons can navigate over terrain, lock on to targets and deliver warheads with precision – the entire original concept behind the cruise missile. Now that these changes are afoot, they could trigger a repricing of whole swaths of weaponry. These shifts toward more information-driven manufacturing allow production itself to be spread across networks that can respond to needs of the war effort. Distributed production Callaway says Lockheed Martin 'can accelerate production and meet combat surge requests by duplicating production cells and standing up multiple production lines in the US and partner nations'. Tapping multiple suppliers, missile assemblies can be built and assembled rapidly. 'We call this distributed production,' said Callaway. The customer can buy a basic kit designed for rapid production that a specialised missile can be built around, Callaway says of the 'Comet'. Changes for Australia As the economics of conflict change, so will threats for Australia. Last year, Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery Pat Conroy gave a speech which outlined the altered world. In World War II, Nazi Germany used V-1 and V-2 guided rockets against Britain. Missiles soon became the subject of strategic thinking during the Cold War, he said, but they have evolved much further since. 'Analysts believe we are now on the cusp of a new Indo-Pacific missile age,' Conroy said. China, North Korea, Russia (also a Pacific power), the US, South Korea are all investing in missile technology.
Chicago Tribune
15-05-2025
- Science
- Chicago Tribune
Elgin News Digest: Planetarium presentation on Elgin Watch Co. set for May 21; ribbon-cutting for new East Dundee parking deck set for May 22
The School District U-46 Planetarium in Elgin will hold two public events on Wednesday, May 21, about the Elgin National Watch Co., its observatory and its connection to the planetarium. According to the school district's website, the program are scheduled for 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. with self-guided building tours from 4 to 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Admission is free, with a suggested donation of $2 per person. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. The planetarium opened in September 1963, according to the city of Elgin's website. It was an addition to the original part of the building, which was the 1909 Elgin National Watch Co. Observatory. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places. The planetarium is located at 312 Watch St.. For more information, go to email DebbieMcMullen@ or josephkellenberger@ or call 847-888-5019. East Dundee will host a ribbon-cutting event at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 22, to celebrate the completion of its new two-level parking garage at 304 Hill St. The garage has 163 parking spaces and ground level commercial space being marketed by the village for $500,000, according to a website for the development. The total cost for the garage was about $7 million. East Dundee also opened a new surface-level parking lot with 26 stalls at 309 Jackson St. in March. After the ribbon-cutting, East Dundee will hold its first Thirsty Thursday outdoor street festival of the season from 6 to 9 p.m. outside The Depot, 319 N. River St. The Gooroos will be on stage performing dance music, and food and beverages will be available for purchase. To celebrate Historic Presentation Month, the Elgin Public Museum will be holding guided tours, a program on green infrastructure and a plant sale on Saturday, May 24. Half-hour tours are scheduled for noon, 1:30 p.m., 2:15 p.m. and 3 p.m., according to the museum's Facebook page. At 12:30 p.m., Chris Flaherty will present 'Rooted in Community: Municipal Green Infrastructure.' Flaherty is founder of Green Guerilla, a land management company that specializes in native garden/natural area designs, applications and maintenance. Green Guerrilla will also be hosting a native plant sale outside the museum from noon to 4 p.m. Indoor events are included with admission — $3 for adults, $2 children ages 3 to 12 and seniors 60 and older, and free for toddlers under 3 and for adults with Elgin Township Senior Access passes. The museum is located at 225 Grand Blvd. in Lords Park.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hunt Capital Partners Closes $15.4 Million in Federal and State LIHTC Financing for More Affordable Housing on Maui
KĪHEI, Hawaii, March 05, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hunt Capital Partners, in partnership with ʻIkenākea Development, Hawaiian Community Development Board (HCDB), and Mark Development, announced the closing of Hale O Pi'ikea III, the final phase of a three-phase affordable housing development in southwest Maui. Located in Kīhei, Hale O Pi'ikea III will introduce a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom housing options for low-income families earning up to 30%, 40%, and 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI). Phase III adds 35 affordable rental homes and one exempt manager's unit to its 187 units that are already under construction, offering a total of 223 affordable homes for families and seniors who make a range of incomes. Hale O Pi'ikea Phase III will deliver urgently needed affordable housing to residents in Maui County, an area that has continued to grapple with a chronic housing shortage. In West Maui, an estimated shortfall of 7,000 available affordable homes was reported in 2023, a situation that was later intensified by the loss of approximately 700 affordable units due to the Lahaina wildfires. Hale O Pi'ikea Phase III will offer residents rent-restricted housing, enabling families to save up to 75% compared to market rate rents. "Hunt Capital Partners is proud to collaborate once again with 3 Leaf Holdings, Hawaiian Community Development Board, and Mark Development to bring much-needed affordable housing to residents in Maui," said Hunt Capital Partners Funds Management Managing Director John Lee. "By reducing housing costs, families can allocate resources and focus more on other vital needs that foster improved health outcomes like healthcare, education, and nutrition." Situated on a 1.93-acre parcel, Hale O Pi'ikea Phase III consists of four two-story garden style residential buildings with shared common spaces that include a clubhouse, picnic areas, and a playground. The apartment homes will be equipped with ceiling fans and Energy Star appliances including electric ovens, refrigerators, garbage disposals, and washer/dryers. The community will feature a range of sustainable initiatives that include storm-resistant building materials and water intrusion prevention measures, as well as the installation of solar power systems and water-efficient landscaping and fixtures. Residents will benefit from free, on-site services ranging from financial literacy and money management programs to homeownership education and parenting programs. Additionally, one of the housing units will be set aside for a household experiencing homelessness and will receive specialized case management through Malama Na Makua A Keiki, an established direct service provider on Maui. "We are extremely pleased to be working with Hunt Capital Partners on the 3rd Phase of our Hale O Pi'ikea Affordable Housing community located in Kīhei," said ʻIkenākea Development Principal Chris Flaherty. "Hunt Capital Partners brings a great team to the table in sourcing the right investors for our projects. They understand Hawaii and the differences that exist between islands and their communities and provide us a great strategic partnership that we value." The development team consists of ʻIkenākea Development as managing general partner, HCDB as co-managing general partner, and Mark Development, Inc. as the administrative general partner and property management agent. Moss & Associates, LLC is the general contractor and Design Partners Incorporated is the architect of record. Hale O Pi'ikea Phase III will be financed, in part, with $10.3 million in federal 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTCs) and $5.2 million in Hawai'i state LIHTC. Bank of Hawai'i provided $12.5 million in construction financing and $3.3 million in permanent financing. Hawai'i Housing Finance and Development Corporation provided $6.8 million in soft financing through its Rental Housing Revolving Fund. The County of Maui provided $3.5 million in soft financing sourced from a HOME loan, an American Rescue Plan loan, and a Housing Trust Fund loan. HCDB provided $1.9 million in soft financing through its Affordable Housing Fund grant. Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance ("ESG") Investing Hunt Capital Partners recognizes that its institutional investors are seeking to increase the social value of their investments to help further their ESG initiatives. Investment in affordable housing not only improves the living conditions of its residents, but it also helps to remove obstacles that stand in the way of creating a healthy, safe and stable home environment for low-income families and seniors. When families spend less on housing related expenses, they have more resources available for other essentials such as food and clothing, or even extracurricular activities and educational programs. One of the most significant benefits to providing quality affordable housing is an increase in an individual's physical and mental health. Hunt Capital Partners' affordable housing investments create a lasting effect on the people and communities they serve for generations to come. About Hunt Capital Partners Hunt Capital Partners (HCP) is the tax credit syndication division of Hunt Companies, Inc. (Hunt). HCP specializes in the sponsorship of Federal and State Low-Income Housing, Historic, and Solar Tax Credit Investments funds. Since its inception in 2010, HCP has raised over $3.8 billion in tax credit equity in over 48 proprietary and multi-investor funds. HCP manages over 800 project partnerships representing over 80,000 homes in 48 states and territories. Founded in 1947, Hunt is a privately held company that invests in businesses focused in the real estate and infrastructure markets. The activities of Hunt's affiliates and investors include investment management, asset management, property management, development, construction, consulting and advisory. For more information on HCP, please visit or for Hunt, please visit About ʻIkenākea Development ʻIkenākea is a Hawaiian word that encapsulates having great wisdom and a specific vision for the community & then aiming to breathe this vision into existence in the community. ʻIkenākea Development is a real estate development company deeply rooted in the rich traditions and values of Hawaii. We are stewards of the land, inspired by the philosophy of Aloha ʻĀina - the profound love and respect for the land. This inspiration is drawn from the first Hawaiians who arrived on these shores, bringing with them a profound reverence and connection to their environment. Hawaii's indigenous people, the descendants of these early Polynesian settlers, have carried forward the legacy of their forebears, understanding that the land is not just a resource to be exploited, but a precious entity to be cherished and preserved. To date, ʻIkenākea has created over 2,500 residential units spanning over 37 different projects with almost 2,000 units in the pipeline in Hawaii currently. At ʻIkenākea, we honor these traditions and embrace the wisdom of these ancient Polynesian pioneers. We recognize that development need not come at the cost of the land; it can thrive in harmony with it. Thus, we proudly embrace Hawaiian values to create sustainable communities that stand as living testaments to our commitment to the land, culture, and people. View source version on Contacts MEDIA CONTACT Carolyn BakerSenior Vice President, Corporate CommunicationsHunt Companies,
