• Defence Notes

  Fourth Astute class boat named

  20th December 2016

  The fourth submarine of the Royal Navy’s Astute class has been officially named Audacious during a ceremony at BAE Systems’ Submarines site in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Qinetiq targets Meggitt in latest acquisition

  21st December 2016

  In a bid to expand its global reach UK based company Qinetiq has announced the acquisition of Meggitt Target Systems for the sum of £57.5 …

• Digital Battlespace

  Israeli company enters DIRCM arena

  22nd December 2016

  Israeli company Bird Aerosystems is close to inking a deal with its first customer for a newly-developed self-protection kit that shields an aircraft from heat-seeking …

• Land Warfare

  BAE and Rheinmetall enter tank battle

  23rd December 2016

  BAE Systems and Rheinmetall have both been selected to start the competitive assessment phase for the Challenger 2 Life Extension Programme (CR2 LEP), it was …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  India speeding up Predator buy

  16th December 2016

  India is pursuing plans to buy high-altitude, long endurance UAVs from the US to meet the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance requirements of its navy and …

• Land Warfare

  Analysis: AAV7 - remaking a legacy

  3rd January 2017

  The LVT-7 (Landing Vehicle Tracked) when first fielded by the US Marine Corps in 1972 was vast improvement over its predecessor the LVT-5.  It was …

• Naval Warfare

  Japan Coast Guard to get cash injection

  13th December 2016

  Japan is proposing to raise the budget of its overworked coast guard in the coming fiscal year, giving it its largest funding ever. The government …

• Defence Helicopter

  Bell Helicopter, PGZ sign LoI

  16th December 2016

  Bell Helicopter and Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) have signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) based on Poland’s Kruk helicopter programme. The government of Poland is …

• Defence Notes

  Saudi and UAE driving GCC defence

  14th December 2016

  The two military heavyweights of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Saudi Arabia and the UAE, are driving defence procurement in the region with recent increases …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Navy UAV requirements up in the air

  14th December 2016

  The deployment of an Insitu Blackjack to a UK Royal Navy (RN) ship intended for 2017 has been put on hold due to US Marine Corps requirements. …

• Land Warfare

  Finland to decide on Korean artillery

  19th December 2016

  Finland is moving towards the acquisition of new self-propelled artillery howitzers, with a decision expected early in 2017. The Nordic country has plans to buy …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2016: NATO accreditation for JTAC technology (video)

  7th December 2016

  SimCentric Technologies has received NATO acreditiation for its Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) simulation software which utilises VBS 3. Shephard spoke with Adam Easton, CEO …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2016: US Navy training for new platforms (video)

  6th December 2016

  The US Navy is continuing to field new training systems to get solors and other personnel up to speed with new platforms, such as the …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2016: Projection meets audio advancements in simulation (video)

  5th December 2016

  Projection experts Barco showcased its  exhibit the newest member to its 4K UHD laser phosphor projector family at I/ITSEC in Orlando.  The company also demonstrated its …

• Defence Helicopter

  Indonesia to overhaul Mi-35Ps in Russia

  9th December 2016

  Russian Helicopters has received a contract to upgrade Mil Mi-35P attack helicopters owned by the Indonesian Army (TNI-AD). The Russian-built helicopters will be overhauled at …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  SAS Drakensberg Replacement [South Africa]

  Programme Background Requirements The South African Navy needs to replace the SAS Drakensberg Combat Support Ship (CSS). SAS Drakensberg was launched in 1986 and commissioned ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | SAS Drakensberg Replacement [South Africa]

  The South African Navy needs to replace the SAS Drakensberg Combat Support Ship (CSS), which entered service in 1987. In October 2023, the South African Navy Chief ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | SAS Drakensberg Replacement [South Africa]

  The South African Navy needs to replace the SAS Drakensberg Combat Support Ship (CSS), which entered service in 1987. In October 2023, the South African Navy Chief ...

• OPVs

  Project Biro [South Africa]

  Programme Background Three multi-mission inshore patrol vessels (MMIPVs) have been procured for the South African Navy under Project Biro. Based on Damen's Stan Patrol 6211 ...

• Tanks

  Project Land 907 Phase 2 [Australia]

  Programme Background Between 2006 and 2007, the Australian Army received 59 M1A1 AIM SA Abrams MBTs under Project Land 907 Phase 1. These vehicles were planned to ...

• Mine-protected vehicles

  New Zealand Bushmaster PMV

  Programme Background The NZDF had called attention to the need to retire the armoured Pinzgauer fleet in its 2019 Defence Capability Plan. Not only are ...

• Special operations vehicles

  SOV-Cdo Replacement (Australia)

  Programme Background The Australian MoD plans to invest in new equipment for its SOF units to allow the ADF to respond more effectively and more ...

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

  Système de Drone Aérien pour la Marine (SDAM) [France]

  Programme Background Requirement The requirement for the SDAM programme is a rotary-wing VTOL-capable UAV with a modular configuration capable of hosting a range of payloads. ...

• Loitering munitions

  Harop [Azerbaijan]

  Programme Background According to a December 2020 report by the Centre for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS), Azerbaijan acquired an estimated 50 Harop loitering munitions ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-1Z Romania

  The Romanian MoD has a long-standing requirement for new rotary platforms, including troop transport, supply and attack configurations. According to the the Military Strategy document, ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Piranha V

  264 of the Piranha Vs will be assigned to the Danish Army's 1st Brigade, following its reorganisation in January 2019. Each of its three armoured ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Tejas LCA - India Follow-On

  Indian Air Force is planning to buy a total of 140 Tejas LCA to equip seven squadrons. Between 2006 and 2016, India’s Defence Acquisition Council authorised ...

• Data links

  Data links | Tejas LCA - India Follow-On

  Indian Air Force is planning to buy a total of 140 Tejas LCA to equip seven squadrons. Between 2006 and 2016, India’s Defence Acquisition Council authorised ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Tejas LCA - India Follow-On

  Indian Air Force is planning to buy a total of 140 Tejas LCA to equip seven squadrons. Between 2006 and 2016, India’s Defence Acquisition Council authorised ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Tejas LCA - India Follow-On

  Indian Air Force is planning to buy a total of 140 Tejas LCA to equip seven squadrons. Between 2006 and 2016, India’s Defence Acquisition Council authorised ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Loitering munitions

  AIHMI AHM-1X

  The AIHMI AHM-1X, also known as Sharp Point or Spearhead in Greek, is a loitering munition from SAS Technology. More specifically, the drone is a 4kg ...

• SAS AW169 interior

  The Specialist Aviation Services (SAS) AW169 Medical Interior is a fully certified EMS interior that features a swivelling, easy-load longitudinal stretcher, giving all-round patient access with ...

• Sea: sonar systems

  T-SAS

  The Towed Synthetic Aperture Sonar (T-SAS) is a high-resolution towed side scan sonar for detection of bottom and short-tethered mines. It is able to deliver ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  SARISA SRS-1A

  The SARISA SRS-1A is a quadcopter rotary-wing UAS unveiled at DEFEA 2021. Manufactured by the Greek company Spirit Aeronautical Systems (SAS) Technology, the platform features two rails underneath ...

• Air-to-surface missiles

  Mako

  Mako is an air-launched hypersonic missile developed by Lockheed Martin in collaboration with CoAspire. The missile was unveiled to the public for the first time ...

• OPVs

  Afrika Class (Vard 7 055)

  The Afrika-class (Vard 7 055) is a 53m OPV developed by Vard Marine. Designed to undertake surveillance, patrol and response operations with the EEZ, the ...

• Military - UUVs

  Bluefin-12S

  The Bluefin-12S AUV has been designed for a range of applications, including shallow-water survey, search and salvage, oceanography and scientific research, as well as MCM ...

• Patrol boats

  Warrior Class (Stan Patrol 6211)

  Under Project Biro, the South African Navy is acquiring three new multi-mission inshore patrol vessels. The project is expected to run for approximately seven years, ...

• Military - UUVs

  SeaOtter Mk II

  The SeaOtter Mk II is a robust and compact long-range AUV with a payload capacity of over 170kg. It is designed for mine detection and ...

• Military - UUVs

  ThunderFish Alpha

  The ThunderFish Alpha (formerly DeDAvE) is an AUV designed for deep-sea military, commercial and scientific applications. In March 2017, Kraken announced a licensing agreement for ...

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  ARES ARS-1X

  Manufactured by SAS Technology, ARES ARS-1X is a mini rotary-wing UAV. The UAV has an open architecture, allowing it to operate as a quadcopter or ...

• Military - USVs

  Venus

  The Venus USV is a modular platform designed to meet the demand for the growing interest in reconfigurable USVs for multi-missions. The Venus family includes ...

• Frigates

  MEKO A-200

  The MEKO A-200 is a general-purpose frigate development of the MEKO 200 design in service with multiple nations. Built by Germany's Blohm+Voss, Howaldtswerke Deutsch Werft ...

• Submarines: conventional, attack

  Type 209/1400mod

  The Type 209/1400mod is a modified variant of the German-designed export Type 209/1400 submarine. This variant of the Type 209 is in service with the ...

• Military - USVs

  Seagull

  At the Singapore Airshow 2016, Elbit Systems unveiled a prototype of its latest USV. The Seagull USV, with MCM capability, has been designed for facilitating ...