Defence Notes

UK MoD “getting a grip” of budgets as three UK air programmes slip into the red

The E-7 Wedgetail, Future Combat Air System and the Protector programmes were highlighted as items of concern from a recently published UK Infrastructure and Projects Authority report.

Trump enters the White House promising into bring the US military to a “golden age”

The returning US president also reiterated a commitment to supply the services with “made-in-America” capabilities and to end conflicts worldwide.

Incoming Irish government backs plans for larger defence force

It has been more than six weeks since the Irish general election. After long negotiations, a coalition of two of the three largest parties and independents has resulted in a Programme for Government (PfG) which will form the basis of a government almost guaranteed to be formed on 22 January.

Uncrewed Vehicles

Shaping the future of defence: What 2025 holds for the global drone market

The UAV market is experiencing unprecedented growth, with innovations in technology and battlefield applications driving demand across military sectors. From the battlefields of Ukraine to NATO exercises and beyond, drones are transforming how wars are fought and supported.

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Naval Warfare

AN/AQS-20 deploy and receive systems ordered

7th August 2019

Raytheon will supply deploy and retrieve systems in support of the US Navy’s AN/AQS-20 programme under an $11.7 million contract announced on 6 August. The …
Naval Warfare

USS John C Stennis to undergo complex overhaul

7th August 2019

Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding division has received a contract modification to continue planning for the refuelling and complex overhaul (RCOH) of the US …
Naval Warfare

Boeing awarded P-8 damage tolerance work

6th August 2019

Boeing will carry out damage tolerance analysis on the P-8A aircraft under a contract modification announced by the US Department of Defense on 5 August. …
Naval Warfare

US Navy commissions USS Billings

5th August 2019

The US Navy commissioned USS Billings (LCS 15) on 3 August in Key West, Florida. Billings is the newest Freedom-variant littoral combat ship (LCS) to …
Naval Warfare

HMS Forth heads to Gibraltar

5th August 2019

Royal Navy River class vessel HMS Forth has deployed to Gibraltar as part of work to establish the operators' manual for the class.One of five …
Defence Notes

Podcast: Best bits: Naval power in Singapore, South African army developments and the future of rotorcraft

2nd August 2019

Welcome to Episode 28 of The Weekly Defence Podcast. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and more. Sign up to an early email alert of future podcasts here.
Defence Helicopter

Germany switches to private mode for heavy-lift helicopter competition

2nd August 2019

The German Federal Ministry of Defence (MoD) has privately handed RfP solicitations for its heavy-lift helicopter programme to Sikorsky and Boeing, Shephard can exclusively reveal. The …
Naval Warfare

Elevator woes linger on new US carrier, as ‘nightmare weapon’ concerns raised

2nd August 2019

The US Navy is struggling to fix technical problems with the advanced weapons elevators on the first Ford-class aircraft carrier, according to a key senator. …
Naval Warfare

India to transfer a submarine to Myanmar

1st August 2019

Indian media outlets have reported that Delhi will supply a single Kilo-class submarine to the Myanmar Navy later this year to help the latter establish …
Naval Warfare

Egypt requests fleet support

1st August 2019

The US government foreign military sales programme will be used to provide follow-on ship support to Egypt, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced on 30 …
Naval Warfare

UK Tomahawk support contract awarded

1st August 2019

Babcock International will provide support for the UK Ministry of Defence's (MoD's) Tomahawk land attack missiles under a contract announced on 1 August. The company …
Defence Notes

Turkish Aerospace, Royal Netherlands Aerospace Center team up

1st August 2019

Turkish Aerospace has signed a framework agreement with the Royal Netherlands Aerospace Center (NLR) to cooperate on future aerospace research projects. The two organisations plan …
Defence Notes

US Navy orders AARGM

31st July 2019

Northrop Grumman has been awarded Lot 8 Full Rate Production of the AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) by the US Navy. The awarded, announced …
Defence Notes

US hypersonic weapons programme moves forward

30th July 2019

Raytheon and DARPA have completed a successful baseline design review for the Tactical Boost Glide hypersonic weapons programme, the company announced on 29 July.The review …
Defence Notes

Two crucial areas continue to dominate UK defence exports

30th July 2019

Despite political shifts in UK defence, including a series of defence ministers in recent years and differing defence industrial priorities, one constant is the UK’s …
Naval Warfare

Independence variant LCS in SSMM testing

30th July 2019

The US Navy has carried out a successful structural test firing of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Surface-to-Surface Missile Module (SSMM) at the Point Mugu …
Defence Notes

Insight: Germany sweats on more than its equipment shortage

30th July 2019

The pace of military procurement progress, underfunding and a shortage of equipment across its armed forces has long frustrated German decision-makers and continues to be …
Naval Warfare

BAE Systems receives Virginia payload tube order

29th July 2019

BAE Systems will produce more payload tubes for the US Navy’s Block V Virginia-class attack submarines under a follow-on contract with General Dynamics Electric Boat …
Naval Warfare

Upgraded MK 45 guns for US Navy

29th July 2019

BAE Systems will upgrade five Mk 45 naval gun systems to the Mod 4 configuration for the US Navy, the company announced on 22 July. Under …