• Naval Warfare

  Zumwalt-class destroyers begin surface-strike platform transformation

  17th October 2023

  Work has begun on modifying the US Navy’s three Zumwalt-class destroyers to host hypersonic missiles offering the service improved surface-attack capability.

• Air Warfare

  Germany's potential SCAF exit for GCAP unpacked

  3rd November 2023

  The leaked information about Germany leaving the Future Combat Air Systems (FCAS/SCAF) project and joining the rival Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) hints at the growing complexities and tensions within the Franco-German partnership.

• Naval Warfare

  New and improved landing craft to boost amphibious ops for Dutch marines

  19th September 2023

  The Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) is embarking on the upgrade and replacement of its existing amphibious landing craft to provide new capabilities for long-range transport and marine assault.

• Land Warfare

  Senate wants $532 million boost for modernising US Abrams tank fleet

  1st August 2023

  The extra funds will enable the upgrading of 53 tanks on top of the 34 included in the US Army's FY2024 budget request.

• Land Warfare

  Indian Army issues RfI for new tracked armoured recovery vehicles

  13th September 2023

  India is looking for a large quantity of new indigenously built armoured recovery vehicles to serve its tank fleet.

• Air Warfare

  GAO report reveals critical F-35 maintenance challenges impacting US fighter readiness

  3rd October 2023

  The US DoD is facing significant obstacles in achieving its sustainment goals for the fleet of approximately 450 F-35 fighters despite plans to expand the fleet to 2,000 over the next two decades.

• Air Warfare

  India receives first C295 transport aircraft from Airbus

  18th September 2023

  India has received its first C295 transporter, and efforts at home continue for AEW, special mission and tanker platforms to be converted from pre-owned airliners.

• Digital Battlespace

  Interoperability: The Vital Ingredient for NATO’s Future Success (Studio)

  10th October 2023

  The lens of multi-domain operations is sharpening, and software-driven communication choices, deeper integration, and innovative technology are increasingly crucial. Companies like L3Harris are enabling a new age of international collaboration by emphasising NATO-standardised interoperability.

• Air Warfare

  DSEI 2023: Ukraine war drives AI development to fight GPS jamming

  4th September 2023

  In response to the war in the Ukraine one company, formerly based in Kyiv, has turned its attention from AI in the medical field to AI on the battlefield by applying the technology to drones for autonomous operation in GPS-denied and complex electronic warfare environments.

• Land Warfare

  Rising Anti-Armour Threats in Ukraine Spotlight Need for Active Protection Systems (Studio)

  6th September 2023

  Amid the evolving threats in modern warfare, active protection systems (APS), like Rafael’s Trophy, offer advanced defence for armoured vehicles.

• Air Warfare

  Indonesia signs MoU for Boeing F-15EX fighters

  22nd August 2023

  Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, Indonesia is still showing interest in obtaining F-15EX fighters from the US.

• Defence Notes

  DSEI 2023: Will UK defence be 'on pause' until the next general election?

  11th September 2023

  The 2023 edition of DSEI will be the last to be held during the current UK Parliament. With an election due within 16 months, is this the ‘end of term’ for the current government, and what are the prospects for the MoD and British defence more widely?

• Land Warfare

  Slovakia to buy Oshkosh JLTVs in modernisation push

  17th July 2023

  The Slovak Armed Forces will acquire 160 Oshkosh 4x4 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs), enhancing their capabilities and advancing modernisation efforts.

• Land Warfare

  As the Ukraine war passes the 18-month mark, how are NATO’s factories meeting the artillery challenge?

  18th September 2023

  NATO is rapidly increasing its supply of equipment to Ukraine in a number of key areas including tube artillery and, crucially, its ammunition. Shephard analyses how the alliance's members are stepping up to this challenge after years of industrial neglect.

• Land Warfare

  Patria MUSCL – Enabling covert airspace surveillance

  7th September 2023

  Airspace surveillance is like playing hide and seek. Except you are both hiding and seeking at the same time, and you are doing it in multiple domains – on land, in the air, and in the electromagnetic spectrum.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military helicopters - multirole

  UH-60M - Jordan

  On 7 July 2020, the US State Department announced that it has approved a possible FMS of one UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter and related equipment ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPC 10 to OPC 25)

  The US Coast Guard (USCG) is planning on having up to 25 Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPC's) to replace the aging 29 medium-endurance cutters.The OPC programme ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPC 10 to OPC 25)

  The US Coast Guard (USCG) is planning on having up to 25 Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPC's) to replace the aging 29 medium-endurance cutters.The OPC programme ...

• Corvettes

  Merkuriy Class (Project 20386)

  Programme Background Requirements The Russian Navy has been streamlining the number of new ship classes to reduce logistic and maintenance costs, meaning around two to ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  4x4 Vehicles [Dominican Republic]

  Programme Background Requirement The Dominican Republic shares a border with Haiti, whose security situation has worsened since the 2010 earthquake. In order to improve border ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Combat Supply Ship [Spain]

  Programme Background Requirements The Spanish Navy is seeking a replacement for the Patino replenishment oiler, which entered service in 1995. The new ship is regarded ...

• Loitering munitions

  Attack & Surveillance Drones (Ukraine Aid) [UK]

  Programme Background 1000th Day On 19 November 2024, the UK Government announced a new military support package for Ukraine, which would supply £7.5 million ($9.4 ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-130J [Saudi Arabia]

  Programme Background On 20 May 2017, President Donald Trump signed a Memorandum of Intent for a $109.7 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia, including $5.8 ...

• Maritime patrol

  Maritime Patrol Aircraft [Greece]

  Programme Background Requirement The Greek government issued a request for proposals in 2023, with a focus on acquiring modern, all-weather maritime surveillance aircraft. The intended ...

• Transport

  C-27 Spartan (Third Batch) [Peru]

  Programme Background In the early 2010s, the Peruvian Air Force started a transport aircraft programme to modernise its transport wing with a platform which can traverse ...

• Frigates

  Type 054A/P (Pakistan)

  Programme Background Contracts Pakistan has ordered four frigates from China under the Type 054AP programme, which refers to the vessels being based on the Peoples ...

• Light attack

  M-346 FA [Brazil]

  Programme Background Requirement Brazil operates several A-1 (AMX) light attack aircraft, which were produced by Embraer in partnership with Leonardo in the 1980s. Similarly, the ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Zefir [Poland]

  Programme Background Inception The Zefir programme concerns a MALE-class UCAV with an operating radius of up to 1000km. In 2018, Defence24 reported that Poland could ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Multirole Fighter (Taiwan)

  Programme Background Taiwan claims that Chinese fighter jets are often crossing into the island's air defence zone. The Republic of China Air Force is looking for options ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  PKX-B Batch II (1-4) [South Korea]

  Programme Background Contracts Award On 24 November 2022, HJ Heavy Industries was awarded a contract worth KRW212 billion ($160 million) to build four PKX-B Batch-II fast attack ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  ACES

  Raytheon's Advanced Countermeasures Electronic System (ACES) is an Integrated Self-Protection System (ISPS) designed to equip Lockheed Martin F-16 series combat aircraft. The ACES architecture includes ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  Royal Moroccan Air Force F-16 ATD

  L3Harris Technologies continues to upgrade the fielded F-16C Block 52 Aircrew Training Devices to include updates to the current Morocco F-16 OFP Tape and replacement ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16A/B Block 1, 5, 10, 15, 20

  The F-16 Fighting Falcon programme started as a low-cost, highly manoeuvrable day fighter to complement the higher-cost, heavier McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle air superiority fighter. ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  Fregat M2EM / Top Plate

  The Fregat M2EM, also known as Top Plate or Top Steer, is a Russian E-band surveillance radar with integrated IFF capability. The radar is capable ...

• Land: range systems and targets

  Table Top Trainer Family

  The Table Top Trainer family is driven by customer demand for cost-effective and mobile simulation solutions for training in special functions such as laying bridges ...

• Special operations vehicles

  Ajban LRSOV

  The Ajban Long-Range Special Operations Vehicle (LRSOV) is an open-top 4x4 long-range reconnaissance vehicle based on Nimr's Ajban multipurpose vehicle. The LRSOV seats four crew ...

• Special operations vehicles

  Patsas

  Unveiled at Eurosatory 2012, the 4x4 Bastion Patsas is an open-top variant of ACMAT's Bastion family developed for SF operations. In 2012, Chad became the ...

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

  STR-50

  The STR-50 is a rotary-wing UAV manufactured by Stromkind.  Little is known about the platform. It was seen displayed on top of a Boxer 8x8 ...

• Titan MkIV

  The Titan MkIV is an octorotor UAV designed for industrial and commercial applications, such as inspection, data collection and surveillance. It is capable of carrying ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  KG-255 INE

  The AltaSec KG-255 is an NSA-certified Type 1 inline network encryptor (INE) that supports the secure exchange of classified information, up to the Top Secret ...

• Land: vehicle simulators

  Convoy Table-Top Crew Station

  The Convoy Table-Top Crew Station simulates commander, driver and gunner positions of a HMMWV or tactical truck. The gunner position features a head-mounted display for ...

• Military - USVs

  Adaro

  Adaro is a rugged, man-portable, X-class USV. Its series-hybrid energy system allows for quiet operation, including at top speeds, while the heavy fuel-based range extender ...

• Individual grenade launchers

  LG4

  The LG4 is a six-chamber, revolving-cylinder, shoulder-fired, semi-automatic 40x46mm grenade launcher. It is fitted with a top rail for optical sights and a bottom rail ...

• Z-Boat 1800

  The Z-Boat 1800 is a remotely operated hydrographic survey boat which includes GNSS positioning, echo sounder and GPS. It has a typical survey speed of ...

• Z-Boat 1800-RP

  The Z-Boat 1800-RP is a remotely operated hydrographic survey boat, an upgrade of Teledyne’s Z-Boat 1800 variant. It has a typical survey speed of 3-3.5kt, ...