• Defence Notes

  US shoots down Chinese surveillance balloon over the Atlantic, debris recovered

  8th February 2023

  The US shot down a Chinese high-altitude surveillance balloon and initiated efforts to recover the debris from the Atlantic Ocean. Analysis of the debris could inform US export control measures and provide insight into China's supply chain.

• Air Warfare

  How FCAS and GCAP fighter jet programmes could converge at subsystem level

  8th February 2023

  The European Initiative for Collaborative Air Combat will bring together nearly 40 industry partners from 11 countries to focus on interoperability for European air forces’ mission management. Discussion of FCAS seems inevitable and the project may aid in bringing FCAS and GCAP closer to each other.

• Land Warfare

  European Defence Agency ploughs millions into autonomy for combat UGVs

  7th February 2023

  Autonomous systems will provide operational benefits across various missions, including ISR, logistics and combat.

• Training

  UK readies Ukrainian soldiers for Challenger tank operations

  1st March 2023

  The UK training programme for Ukrainian soldiers on Challenger 2 tanks is ongoing in England while other troops have completed a five-week advanced US training course in Germany.

• Land Warfare

  Persisent Systems to roll out regional network for US Air Force bases

  3rd March 2023

  Persistent Systems will deliver Infrastructure-based Regional Operation Network (IRON) functionality across three major USAF missile bases to improve situation awareness for security forces.

• Naval Warfare

  Belgian-Dutch ASWF frigate nears contract award

  23rd January 2023

  The joint programme will see the Belgian and Dutch navies receive two new frigates each.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  NAVDEX 2023: Autonomous minehunter arrives in the Gulf for trials

  14th February 2023

  The trials will test the ability of the system to operate in the high-stress and high-heat environment of the Arabian Gulf.

• Naval Warfare

  A new type of Chinese frigate breaks cover

  31st January 2023

  The Type 054A frigate has undergone serious mass production in China, but its more modern successor is now on the horizon.

• Air Warfare

  Turkey considers ditching F-16 Block 70 request in favour of non-US alternative

  16th March 2023

  Turkish officials are signalling dissatisfaction and contemplating abandoning plans to purchase F-16 Block 70s from the US as the deal stalemates, and the country faces hard economic decisions.

• Air Warfare

  German industry teams up to develop sensors for FCAS fighter

  8th February 2023

  A consortium of four German companies has been contracted to develop key elements of the sensor network for the European Future Combat Air System.

• Naval Warfare

  Japan’s military enhances transport capability to offshore islands

  29th January 2023

  Japan, concerned by the vulnerability of its southwest archipelago, is seeking to boost its military transport capacity to the area.

• Air Warfare

  NATO air forces need to focus on air superiority and ‘realistic’ training

  30th March 2023

  At the RUSI Combat Air Conference 2023, experts and senior air force personnel openly talked about the lessons air forces learned from the Russian invasion of Ukraine. NATO air arms must focus on SEAD/DEAD missions, stockpiling ammunition and air superiority.

• Land Warfare

  UK inks agreement for Swedish Archer guns and buys Carl-Gustaf M4 recoilless rifles

  30th March 2023

  The defence ministers of the UK and Sweden have signed a letter of intent for a contract to supply the British Army with 14 Archer self-propelled guns and announced a deal for Carl-Gustaf M4 recoilless rifles.

• Naval Warfare

  BAE contracts Norwegian shipyard for Type 26 composite work

  2nd February 2023

  Norway’s Umoe Mandal will build masts and other structures for five more Type 26 frigates.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  The Aardvark Group pushes UK manufacturing forward with indigenous autonomous UGVs

  21st April 2023

  Following 40 years in the defence industry, The Aardvark Group, best known for its mine clearance systems, is pushing UK manufacturing forward with continued development of its indigenous, autonomous UGVs, RANG-R and GEN2.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Constellation Class - FFG(X) (11-20)

  The US Navy ran the Next Generational Future Guided Missile Frigate (FFG X) programme to build a replacement for the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates, the ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Constellation Class - FFG(X) (11-20)

  The US Navy ran the Next Generational Future Guided Missile Frigate (FFG X) programme to build a replacement for the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates, the ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Littoral Strike Ships (LSS)

  Programme Background Original Plan: Procurment In February 2019, the then-UK Secretary of State for Defence, Gavin Williamson, announced an intention to establish two' littoral strike ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Multi-Role Support Ship (MRSS) (3) [Malaysia]

  Programme Background Requirements The Royal Malaysian Navy are in the process of a fleet transformation plan known as the 15 to 5 Transformation Plan, which ...

• Frigates

  Littoral Combat Ship (LCS)

  Programme Background The Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) programme was developed in 2003 as a cheap and fast way to increase the size of the fleet ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | LMS Batch II (5-7) [Malaysia]

  The Royal Malaysia Navy (RMN) plans to acquire eight Littoral Mission Ships (LMS). In line with the plan, it was assumed the RMN would acquire ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | LMS Batch II (5-7) [Malaysia]

  The Royal Malaysia Navy (RMN) plans to acquire eight Littoral Mission Ships (LMS). In line with the plan, it was assumed the RMN would acquire ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Littoral Combat Ships [Egypt]

  In December 2022, Sky News Arabia revealed that, according to a spokesperson of the US DoD, Washington had authorised the sale/transfer of Littoral Combat Ships ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Littoral Combat Ships [Egypt]

  In December 2022, Sky News Arabia revealed that, according to a spokesperson of the US DoD, Washington had authorised the sale/transfer of Littoral Combat Ships ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Multi-Role Support Ship (MRSS) [UK]

  Programme Background Requirements According to the UK MoD's March 2021 Defence Command Paper, entitled 'Defence in a Competitive Age', the RN will invest in six ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Littoral Manoeuvre Vessel - Heavy (Project Land 8710 Phase 2) [Australia]

  Under Project Land 8710 Phase 2, Australia is seeking to acquire an undisclosed number of Littoral Manoeuvre Vessels to replace the Balikpapan-class. According to ADF ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Littoral Manoeuvre Vessel - Heavy (Project Land 8710 Phase 2) [Australia]

  Under Project Land 8710 Phase 2, Australia is seeking to acquire an undisclosed number of Littoral Manoeuvre Vessels to replace the Balikpapan-class. According to ADF ...

• Frigates

  Frigate Procurement (2) [Thailand]

  Programme Background Requirements The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) is expected to order a second frigate following the procurement of the DW3000F in 2013. Timeline The RTN ...

• Patrol boats

  Shaldag Mk V [Israel]

  Programme Background A press release from Israel Shipyards on 7 July 2021 announced the company would be supplying the Israeli Navy with four Shaldag Mk ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | LPDs/OPVs Replacement Programme [Netherlands]

  The RNLN is planning to build two new Landing Platform Dock (LPDs) to enhance its amphibious capabilities and replace its ageing LPDs Rotterdam and Johan ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Naval: RF, IR and acoustic decoys

  ALEX

  Lockheed Martin’s Automated Launch of Expendables (ALEX) can be integrated into an EW suite or act as a standalone system. Modularity allows a number of ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  COMBATSS-21

  Produced by Lockheed Martin, the Littoral Combat Ship Component Based Total Ship System – 21st Century (COMBATSS-21) is a modular, scalable open combat management system that can be ...

• Military - UUVs

  RMMV

  The Remote Multi-Mission Vehicle (RMMV) was a semi-submersible AUV developed as part of the AN/WLD-1(V) Remote Minehunting System (RMS) for the USN’s Littoral Combat Ship ...

• Military - USVs

  USSV-HTF

  The US Office of Naval Research previously used the Unmanned Sea Surface Vehicle-High Tow Force (USSV-HTF) to test various technological features that could be incorporated ...

• EO/IR systems

  COBRA

  The Coastal Battlefield Reconnaissance and Analysis (COBRA) system was part of Northrop Grumman's airborne mine countermeasures (AMCM) product line. It was adopted as the AN/DVS-1 ...

• Marine engines

  MTU 4000

  The MTU Series 4000 is manufactured by Rolls-Royce UK. The engine consists of a 90° V cylinder configuration and has a displacement/cylinder capacity of 4.77 ...

• Sea: naval fire control radar

  TMX/EO

  The TMX/EO three-axis tracking module is equipped with X-band radar and TV camera, IR camera and laser rangefinder, for precision measurement of aerial, naval and ...

• Short Range Missile Defence Systems: 0 to 20 km range

  SeaRAM

  SeaRAM is an MK 15 CIWS variant which replaces the Phalanx Close-In Weapon System’s 20mm gun with a Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) Block II launcher. ...

• Corvettes

  Littoral Mission Ship (LMS 92)

  Based on the C92 corvette design, the Littoral Mission Ship (LMS) 92 has been developed by Dearsan shipyard to meet the requirements of the Malaysian LMS ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  MQ-8C Fire Scout

  The MQ-8C is a newer version of the Fire Scout and is based on a Bell 407 commercial helicopter. It offers a greater range, endurance and ...

• Data links

  T-Series Model S

  Model S is a shipboard, high-bandwidth, full-duplex ground terminal for communication with CDL airborne-configured systems. The terminal is software-configurable and supports the standard CDL waveform, ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  TRS-4D

  The TRS-4D is a three-dimensional multi-functional naval surveillance radar produced by German manufacturer Hensoldt. The radar is primarily designed for surveillance and target acquisition. The ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  9LV Combat Management System

  Developed by Saab, the 9LV CMS provides scalable options for naval combat systems, and has been delivered on more than 230 ships – from small patrol ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Combattante FS65

  The Combattante FS65 is a Fast Attack Long Range Craft developed by CMN. The ship can be armed with a 76mm naval gun, SAM systems, ...

• Frigates

  DW3000

  The Royal Thai Navy ordered a DW3000F design multipurpose frigate from South Korea's Hanwha Ocean based on the Daegu-class frigate in service with the Republic ...