• Defence Notes

  Opinion: Winds of change in Whitehall

  20th June 2018

  Change is afoot in Whitehall, as Air Chief Marshal Stuart Peach hands over as chief of the defence staff (CDS) to General Nick Carter. This …

• Defence Notes

  Trump forcing Europe to deepen defence integration

  21st June 2018

  Uncertainty over US President Donald Trump's commitment to the NATO alliance requires European nations to bolster efforts to forge a common defence policy, France's Defence …

• Defence Notes

  Greek coalition partner vows to block Macedonia deal

  3rd July 2018

  The head of Greece's junior coalition partner on 3 July vowed to block a disputed name deal with neighbouring Macedonia, questioning the government's legitimacy to …

• Defence Helicopter

  Insight: The evolution of the Mi-26

  22nd June 2018

  A dual-use rotorcraft still successfully marketed around the world, the Mi-26 - also known under its NATO reporting name Halo - has undergone some dynamic …

• Defence Notes

  Turkey gets first F-35 delivery from US

  22nd June 2018

  The US delivered its first shipment of F-35 stealth fighter jets to Turkey on 21 June, despite tensions with the country and US lawmakers' opposition. …

• Special Operations

  Tri-national Special Forces Command announced

  13th June 2018

  Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands are to create a tri-national Special Forces Command. The command will be established under a Memorandum of Understanding signed between …

• Land Warfare

  Knight's new 5.56mm LAMG enters LRIP

  20th June 2018

  Knight's Armament Company's (KAC) new 5.56x45mm NATO Light Assault Machine Gun (LAMG) has now entered low-rate production, with larger calibre variants expected soon. Sources at …

• Defence Notes

  Mattis blasts Putin for trying to 'shatter' NATO

  15th June 2018

  US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis assailed Russian President Vladimir Putin on 15 June, accusing him of attacking western democracy and trying to break up NATO. …

• Defence Notes

  Moscow slams Norway plans to double US troop presence

  14th June 2018

  Moscow on 14 June criticised Norway's plans to ask Washington to double the number of US troops stationed in the Scandinavian country and deploy them …

• Special Operations

  Latvia orders Outlander MAX 650 XT ATVs

  21st June 2018

  The Latvian National Armed Forces (NAF) has placed a $12.74 million order with Finnish company BRP for the delivery of Outlander MAX 650 XT military …

• Defence Notes

  European countries to formalise EU defence force plan

  25th June 2018

  Nine EU nations will formalise a plan on 25 June to create a European military intervention force, a French minister said, with Britain backing the …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Rafael demonstrates Protector USV to NATO

  13th June 2018

  Rafael Advance Defense Systems has demonstrated the capabilities of the Protector USV against naval swarm threats for NATO forces. The demonstration, which included a simulated firing …

• Defence Notes

  Norway wants US to double its troops in country

  12th June 2018

  Norway will ask the US to double the number of US troops stationed in the country and deploy them nearer the border with Russia, the …

• Defence Notes

  Despite rows, EU-US defence ties still strong

  21st June 2018

  NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on 21 June acknowledged the ‘real’ disagreements between Europe and the US but insisted the trans-Atlantic bond on defence and …

• Land Warfare

  Eurosatory 2018: Swedish Army targets combined arms to meet threats (video)

  14th June 2018

  As the political and security landscape of Europe changes with the renewed recognition of potential threats posed by near-peer and peer adversaries, countries such as …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  BMD-4M

  Programme Background Since 2017, 11 battalion sets of the BMD-4M have been delivered to units of the VDV in addition to 27 located at the ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  BTR-MDM Rakushka

  Programme Background Since 2016, 11 battalion sets of BTR-MDMs are known to have been delivered to units of the VDV in addition to 12 platforms ...

• Tanks

  2S25 Sprut-SDM1

  Programme Background The Sprut-SDM1 is an upgraded version of the Sprut-SD, a mere 30 of which were produced for the VDV between 2006 and 2010 ...

• Destroyers

  Maya Class (27DDG) (1-2) [Japan]

  Programme Background The 27DD Maya class destroyers were previously known as the Improved Atago class because they are an addition to the existing two Atago-class destroyers that have entered service. ...

• AEW&C

  Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (1-6) [NATO]

  Programme Background NATO’s E-3A AWACS fleet is set to retire in 2035, after 50 years of service. To plan for the required follow-on capability, NATO's ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (1-6) [NATO]

  NATO is estimated to procure up to 18 AEW aircraft under the Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (AFSC) programme to replace the current E-3 Sentry fleet when ...

• Data links

  Data links | Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (1-6) [NATO]

  NATO is estimated to procure up to 18 AEW aircraft under the Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (AFSC) programme to replace the current E-3 Sentry fleet when ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (1-6) [NATO]

  NATO is estimated to procure up to 18 AEW aircraft under the Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (AFSC) programme to replace the current E-3 Sentry fleet when ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (1-6) [NATO]

  NATO is estimated to procure up to 18 AEW aircraft under the Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (AFSC) programme to replace the current E-3 Sentry fleet when ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-390 Options [Portugal]

  Programme Background Leadership from Embraer and the Portuguese Air Force formalised a contract that includes 10 aircraft options that can be utilised by any NATO ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-390 [Portugal]

  Programme Background Leadership from the Portuguese Air Force and Embraer signed a contract for a sixth C-390, with the option for ten additional aircraft for ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) - (Greece)

  Programme Background EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) was announced in early 2022 and the project contract was awarded ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) - (Italy)

  Programme Background EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) was announced in early 2022 and the project contract was awarded ...

• Fighter - multirole

  MiG-35 (Russia)

  The MiG-35 is a new-generation derivative of the twin-engine MiG-29 (NATO code-name ‘Fulcrum’) featuring multi-role combat capabilities, significantly reworked airframe and a vastly expanded arsenal ...

• ISR/special mission

  EC-37B Compass Call [USAF]

  Programme Background Requirement The retirement of the EF-111A in 1990 left the USAF largely out of the operational and tactical level radar jamming business. Lockheed Martin ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Major networking projects

  Ballistic Missile Defence

  In early 2010, NATO acquired the first phase of an initial theatre ballistic missile defence capability to protect alliance forces. 

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  BMD-2

  Between 1,000 and 2,000 BMD-2 (Boevaya Mashina Desantnaya - Airborne Combat Vehicle) amphibious IFVs were produced for the Soviet Airborne Forces (VDV) by the Volgograd ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  BMD-4M

  The BMD-4M is based on the BMD-4, which has been in the Russian Army's airborne forces (VDV) service since 2004. It was developed to provide an ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  BMD-1

  The Volgograd Tractor Plant (now known as the Volgograd Machine-Building Company) developed the BMD-1 amphibious IFV specifically to meet the requirements of the Soviet Union's ...

• Long Range Missile Defence Systems: > 90km range

  Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System

  The Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) System, developed by the United States, provides advanced sea-based and land-based protection against ballistic missile threats.  Using the AN/SPY-1 ...

• Land: battle management systems

  BMD-Flex

  BMD-Flex is a modular C2 software system for integrated air and missile defence. Built on T-Core, BMD-Flex’s features and functions can be tailored, ranging from ...

• Land: manned turrets

  Bereg

  KBP developed the Bereg one-person turret (referred to as a ‘combat module’ in Russia) to provide an upgrade option for the Russian-designed BMD-series airborne IFV ...

• Land: manned turrets

  Bakhcha

  The Bakhcha is the latest version of the two-man turret originally developed for the BMP-3 tracked IFV, which entered Soviet Army service in 1987.  It ...

• Long Range Missile Defence Systems: > 90km range

  Aegis Ashore

  Aegis Ashore is the first operational land-based version of the Aegis Combat System originally developed by Lockheed Martin for the US Navy's Ballistic Missile Defence ...

• Cannons

  2A70

  The 2A70 is a 100mm cannon that has been designed to equip infantry fighting vehicles, including the BMP-3, BMP-3F and the BMD-4M.

• Major networking projects

  NATO SATCOM

  Leonardo has been awarded a turnkey contract to rationalise and upgrade NATO’s SATCOM systems and associated infrastructure. The company will design, build, test, commission and ...

• Land: RWS

  Qimek NATO

  Rheinmetall's RWS family includes the Qimek single-weapon RWS and the Nanuk dual-weapon RWS. The Qimek NATO combines full stabilisation, long-range day/night all-weather sights and a ...

• Land: RWS

  Nanuk NATO

  Rheinmetall's RWS family includes the Qimek single-weapon RWS and the Nanuk dual-weapon RWS, which was introduced in 2008. The Nanuk NATO combines full stabilisation, long-range ...

• Major networking projects

  NATO DCIS

  Airbus is delivering the NATO Deployable Communication and Information System (DCIS). The project represents a major upgrade in the capability of NATO Response Forces (NRF) ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  BTR-MDM

  The BTR-MDM Rakushka is an amphibious tracked armoured vehicle developed by Kurganmashzavod to meet the Russian Airborne Forces' (VDV) need for a new air-droppable APC. ...