Defence Notes

Read the latest general defence news and company announcements from our team of expert journalists and analysts, giving you the 'so what' behind the latest headlines.

Naval Warfare

South American shipyards end 2024 positively as regional navies bet on local manufacturers

The year ends with several South American navies undergoing ambitious programmes to modernise their fleets. A common denominator is that regional services want domestically manufactured surface vessels and even submarines.

Air Warfare

Analysis: Is the C-5 Galaxy in it for the long-haul?

What are the realistic options for replacing or replicating the C-5’s unique capability when it finally reaches its end of life?

Land Warfare

US sanctions fail to rattle India as it looks to Russian long-range radar

India has been navigating a strategic balancing act in its defence modernisation efforts as it considers deals with Russia and the US.

Land Warfare

Land Warfare Preview 2025: Questions remain in a time of change

The land war in Ukraine has dominated the posture, spending and actions of Russia and NATO countries for two years. With a new US Government committed to ending the conflict early in 2025, there are implications on all three of those fronts.

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Air Warfare

Northrop gets $3.5 billion contract to integrate mission systems for E-6B successor

19th December 2024

The E-130J aircraft will take over the E-6B for the US Navy’s Take Charge and Move Out system.
Air Warfare

Air Warfare Preview 2025: A pressure-filled year ahead will see decisions made on major platforms and programmes

18th December 2024

Looming government decisions on major defence programmes in the US and UK will colour much of 2025, while manufacturers and their orderbooks look on.
Naval Warfare

Naval Warfare Review 2024: Business as usual overshadowed by geopolitics and budgets, but innovation promised solutions

13th December 2024

There was solid programme advancement around the world in 2024, but a combination of more threats, fleet unreadiness and a financial squeeze darkened naval horizons as the year advanced.
Land Warfare

Land Warfare Review 2024: Conflict in Europe and the Middle East dominate attention and power spending

11th December 2024

Political turbulence in the US and across the Atlantic could have huge implications for Ukraine in the coming months. In 2024, however, the land warfare domain saw spending increase in eastern and central Europe, the continent continue its preference for the CV90 and a global rise in the demand for missiles.
Air Warfare

Air Warfare Review 2024: Budget cuts and delays fail to dampen modernisation efforts in 2024

10th December 2024

From major platform upgrades, high-value contract wins and programme delays, Shephard reported on a mixed year for air warfare in 2024, as geopolitical tensions rose across Europe and the Middle East.
Naval Warfare

Italian Navy finally takes delivery of Trieste

10th December 2024

The largest ship built in Italy in the post-war period has been delivered, and is expected to significantly boost Italy’s Amphibious Task Group.
Air Warfare

China unveils new military kit and demonstrates technological prowess

9th December 2024

From the J-35A twin-engine fighter and the CH-7 stealth surveillance platform, to the Smart-configuration Support UAV and JARI-USV-A unmanned surface vessel, China has been showcasing its ability to project military power through recent technological innovations.
Land Warfare

DEFEA 2025 – The Future of Global Defence and Security

9th December 2024

Held in the strategic heart of the Mediterranean basin, DEFEA-Defence Exhibition Athens 2025 is set to be one of Europe’s largest and most influential international defence and security exhibitions, bringing together world-leading defence companies, major manufacturers, industry leaders, and officials from around the globe.
Naval Warfare

HII acquires new manufacturing capacity for AUKUS work

4th December 2024

An existing facility in South Carolina will be turned over to work on AUKUS elements, as well as other US Navy projects.
Air Warfare

What Saudi Arabia’s GCAP involvement could mean for the UK

4th December 2024

Analysts have said that making space for the country in the sixth-gen fighter aircraft initiative could give the UK a chance to ease the financial burden of the aircraft’s development.
Air Warfare

Norway to contribute F-35s and NASAMS air defence to Poland

3rd December 2024

The Scandinavian country will help to safeguard Polish airspace and ensure aid to Ukraine reaches its destination.
Defence Notes

Top-level commitments but no meat in UK Defence Industrial Strategy’s Statement of Intent

3rd December 2024

The initial document focused more on creating the right partnerships and inspiring investment in defence than on any details of how future UK Armed Forces would be armed.
Defence Notes

UK begins process on new industrial strategy

2nd December 2024

The first stage of developing a new UK Defence Industrial Strategy has highlighted failings in current structures with solutions expected to be proposed in next year’s full strategy.
Air Warfare

Netherlands deploys F-35s for air policing in Estonia

2nd December 2024

The Dutch F-35s will replace the German Eurofighter Typhoons stationed in Latvia.
Air Warfare

US to deploy F-35As to Japan base by early 2026

2nd December 2024

The 48 F-35A aircraft are set to replace the 36 F-16s as part of the US Department of Defense’s plans to upgrade its aircraft across Japan.
Air Warfare

Boeing’s orderbook boosted with new US Air Force contracts

29th November 2024

Recent orders for the Boeing KC-46A tanker for the US Air Force (USAF) and engineering support for the Japan Air Self-Defence Force give a boost to the US manufacturer’s orderbook.
Air Warfare

Finland’s Summa Defence establishes drone production facility with Ukrainian partners

28th November 2024

The Finnish defence and security group will work with Ukrainian drone companies to speed up production of platforms for Ukraine and across the European Union (EU) and NATO countries.
Naval Warfare

Tusk calls for maritime policing in Black Sea to meet “threat posed by Russia”

27th November 2024

The Polish prime minister made the call ahead of a meeting of Baltic and Nordic ministers to discuss security and geopolitics in the region.
Air Warfare

L3Harris wins $1 billion communications system contract from US Navy

27th November 2024

The company will deliver its Multifunctional Information Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio System Terminal (MIDS JTRS) to the US over the next five years.