• Defence Helicopter

  USMC thinks hard about cutting CH-53K King Stallion numbers

  12th March 2021

  The USMC is weighing up whether or not to reduce CH-53K heavy-helicopter numbers but a decision on that front has not been taken in line with schedule.

• Air Warfare

  The Sentinel is retiring. What’s next? (sponsored)

  29th March 2021

  The Sentinel R1 aircraft returns from its last operational flight from RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, Feb. 26, 2021. (Photo by RAF Sgt. Nicholas Howe/ UK MOD …

• Special Operations

  France augments SOF capabilities

  16th April 2021

  French SOF chiefs recognised a need to refresh equipment for operations on land, at sea and in the air.

• Land Warfare

  US Army lays out AMPV progression after delay

  19th March 2021

  Low-rate initial production Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicles are now not expected to enter operational service with the US Army until 2023 at the earliest after operational testing was ‘pushed to the right’.

• Land Warfare

  Saab hopes Australia will take Barracuda bait

  9th April 2021

  Saab senses manufacturing and sales opportunities in Australia for its signature-reducing Barracuda, despite a previously unsuccessful attempt.

• Air Warfare

  India to lease naval helicopters in the interim

  29th April 2021

  With roadblocks in its Naval Utility Helicopter programme, India's Navy sees leasing as a potential stop-gap solution.

• Land Warfare

  Venezuelan Army fires upgraded Scorpion 90

  24th March 2021

  Last week, the Venezuelan Army released images of a firing demonstration involving an upgraded Scorpion 90, with 26 of these vehicles apparently already modernised.

• Naval Warfare

  Japan mulls a successor to Oosumi-class transport vessels

  19th March 2021

  The JMSDF will have to replace its Oosumi-class transport vessels, but their replacement does not seem to have been given the priority it deserves.

• Land Warfare

  IDEX 2021: Kia exhibits modular Light Tactical Cargo Truck

  22nd February 2021

  Unique design is optimised for military use, says South Korean manufacturer.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Russia still has sights set on Orion

  23rd March 2021

  Russian Minister of Defence claims more homemade MALE UCAVs will be delivered in 2021.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  US Army takes mixed-fleet FTUAS buy into consideration

  3rd March 2021

  The US Army has just wrapped up almost a year's worth of FTUAS testing and is looking ahead to a formal acquisition. It could see fit to buy more than one aircraft type currently under consideration.

• Air Warfare

  South Korea joins the ‘big boys’ with rollout of KF-21

  13th April 2021

  South Korea's project to create an affordable but capable modern fighter still appears to be on track, as the first prototype is rolled out.

• Defence Helicopter

  New Sky Viper ready to disrupt FARA

  11th March 2021

  Northrop Grumman has revealed a 20mm chain gun named Sky Viper — will it be considered as an alternative to the General Dynamics XM915 cannon?

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  KAI and IAI loiter with intent

  12th March 2021

  Integrating manned-unmanned teaming onto its aircraft platforms is uppermost in KAI's mind.

• Land Warfare

  MOSAIC vehicle bets on protection and stealth

  15th February 2021

  MOSAIC has a low silhouette and rear engine to reduce its signature and features major innovations in the field of ballistic protection. Soframe developed the platform focusing on the French VBAE programme.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles

  ARV (USMC)

  Programme Background The ARV constitutes one component of a wider USMC effort to develop an interconnected network of manned and unmanned platforms more suited to ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  ACV (US - USMC)

  Programme Background The Armored Combat Vehicle (ACV) programme is intended to provide a replacement for the USMC's fleet of Amphibious Assault Vehicle 7 (AAV7) tracked ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Medium Range/Medium Endurance (MR/ME) [USMC]

  Programme Background Force Design 2030 The USMC Force Design 2030 is a modernisation effort to create a lighter, more agile maritime force. The update to ...

• Military helicopters - maritime, Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-53K - US Navy

  Programme Background The Marine Corps is replacing its aging CH-53E helicopters with the CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter. Designed as an evolution of the CH-53E, the CH-53K ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  UH-1Y Venom (Czechia)

  Programme Background Czech Armed Forces intended to use the UH-1Y Venom helicopters in various missions including utility, search and rescue, aerial reconnaissance, air-to-ground support and ...

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

  Large ULS-A / Aerial Logistics Connector (ALC) [USMC]

  Programme Background US Marine ULS-A programmes The US Marines are seeking a family of Unmanned Logistics Systems-Air (ULS-A), which will provide logistics and ground units with ...

• Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles

  Belgium Jaguar Medium Common Armoured Vehicle Platform

  Programme Background In its Strategic Vision for Defence document published in June 2016, the Belgian MoD outlined its aspirations for equipping five motorised manoeuvre battalions ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Belgium Griffon Light Common Armoured Vehicle Platform

  Programme Background In its Strategic Vision for Defence document published in June 2016, the Belgian MoD outlined its aspirations for equipping five motorised manoeuvre battalions ...

• Loitering munitions

  Long-Range Attack Munition (LRAM) [USMC]

  Programme Background Force Design 2030 The USMC Force Design 2030 is a modernisation effort to create a lighter, more agile maritime force. The update to ...

• Loitering munitions

  Organic Precision Fire - Light (OPF-L) [USMC]

  Programme Background Force Design 2030 The USMC Force Design 2030 is a modernisation effort to create a lighter, more agile maritime force. In May 2022, an annual ...

• Military UAS - small

  RQ-21A Blackjack / STUASLO - Replacement Units (USMC)

  Programme Background Joint USN and USMC Procurment The RQ-21 Blackjack, or STUALSO, was a combined United States Navy (USN) and United States Marine Corps (USMC) programme ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-1Z

  In issuing the Force Design 2030 report into the future direction of the USMC, the corps is attempting to steer the course of its development, ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  TH-73 Advanced Helicopter Training System - AHTS (TH-57 Replacement)

  Contenders for the competition included the Leonardo single engine TH-119 – a military variant of the AW119Kx – and Bell’s newly upgraded single engine 407GXi. ...

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

  Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Unmanned Expeditionary (MUX) (Increment 1) [USMC]

  Programme Background All-in-One UAV Since 2016, the USMC has wished to acquire a UAV that could be deployed from a vessel, be used for various missions, ...

• Fighter - naval

  F-35B Follow-On UK

  Programme Background  The forthcoming UK Integrated Foreign Policy and Defence Review will shed further light on whether changes to the UK F-35B programme are to ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• EO/IR systems

  ATARS

  Operational on USMC F/A-18s, the Advanced Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance System (ATARS) provides high-resolution imagery for real/near-real time reconnaissance and can perform strike and bomb damage ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  ACV

  BAE Systems teamed with Iveco Defence to offer a version of Iveco Defence Vehicle's Superav for the USMC's Armored Combat Vehicle Phase 1 Increment 1 ...

• Armoured engineer vehicles

  JAB

  The US Army is leading the Joint Assault Bridge (JAB) project to replace legacy M60A1-based bridge launchers in service with itself and USMC with an M1-based ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Jaguar EBRC

  The Jaguar Armored Reconnaissance and Combat Vehicle (EBRC) is a 6x6 armoured reconnaissance vehicle manufactured by a consortium formed of Nexter Systems, Arquus (formerly Renault Trucks Defense) and ...

• Military UGVs

  XM1216 SUGV

  The XM1216 Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle (SUGV) is a tactical system that can enter and secure areas that are either inaccessible or too dangerous for ...

• Special operations vehicles

  Flyer 60 ALSV

  General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (GD-OTS), in partnership with Flyer Defense, developed the Flyer 60 Advanced Light Strike Vehicle (ALSV) in parallel with the ...

• Armoured engineer vehicles

  M1150 ABV

  The M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicle (ABV) project, launched by the USMC in 2002, is a joint programme to meet the requirements of both the US ...

• Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles

  Commando Elite

  The 4x4 Commando Elite is an improved derivative of Textron's M1117 Armored Security Vehicle which offers improved mobility, lethality and survivability. The Canadian Army chose ...

• Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles

  Type 82

  The Type 82 command and communications vehicle was developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to perform specialised roles for the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) such ...

• Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles

  LTMPAV Dino 519

  The LTMPAV Dino 519 is an armored vesion of Concept's Dino 319.

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Cottonmouth

  The Cottonmouth is a purpose-built 6x6 amphibious reconnaissance vehicle designed by Textron Systems to meet the requirements of the USMC's Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV) programme. It ...

• Land: RWS

  LW30/RS6

  The LW30 (since rebranded RS6) is part of the Protector RWS family developed by Kongsberg. Designed to carry a heavier armament than earlier Protector systems, ...

• Crew-served assault/anti-tank weapons

  SMAW Mod 0

  Developed to meet the requirements of the USMC, the Shoulder-Launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon (SMAW), introduced in 1984, is a development of the IMI B-300. Its ...

• Land: manned turrets

  GD30

  General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) has developed a two-person turret designed to accommodate the Northrop Grumman Mk44S Bushmaster II 30mm cannon. Called the GD30, little ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-1W SuperCobra

  Bell’s AH-1W SuperCobra attack helicopter was developed from the AH-1T for the USMC. It has been in service since 1986 to the present day, first ...