• Naval Warfare

  Naviris and Navantia to conduct EPC studies

  12th February 2021

  The European Patrol Corvette is intended to replace to replace several classes of ships, from patrol vessels to light frigates, from 2027.

• Training

  Australia invests in armour training

  8th February 2021

  A new simulation centre for armoured vehicles will enable the Australian Army to train with upgraded and new platforms.

• Defence Helicopter

  Brazilian naval helicopter upgrade reaches halfway mark

  4th February 2021

  Brazilian Navy aims to deploy upgraded Super Lynx helicopters on its Tamandaré-class corvettes.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  IAI sells and leases Heron MK II to Central Asia

  25th January 2021

  Israeli-made UAV boasts standoff ISR capability.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Composite rubber tracks add advantages to robotic vehicle systems (sponsored)

  27th January 2021

  This article is brought to you by Soucy International Inc. As armies boost their investments in robotic and autonomous systems (RAS), the benefits of composite rubber …

• Defence Notes

  US researchers claim progress in self-propelled materials

  26th February 2021

  Lessons from nature inform US Army-funded research into new ways of moving machines. If this research is taken further forward, it could result in vehicles that do not consume large quantities of fuel or require bulky motors.

• Land Warfare

  Russia puts Bumerang on the global market

  22nd February 2021

  Bumerang has been approved for export and presented at two trade shows already this year – but as its name suggests, efforts to sell the wheeled armoured platform could rebound.

• Land Warfare

  Russia targets 2023 for Sprut-SDM1 serial production

  2nd February 2021

  The Sprut-SDM1 programme appears to be making headway in Russia — but criticism remains.

• Land Warfare

  Germany gives green light for new active protection on Leopards

  10th February 2021

  The German parliament has released funds to procure the Rafael Trophy active protection system for Leopard 2A6A3 MBTs.

• Land Warfare

  Turkish delight at two Philippine Army contracts

  6th January 2021

  FNSS has reaped two recent contracts in the Philippines - for armoured combat earthmovers and for one-man turrets.

• Defence Notes

  Aero India 2021: Companies move to transfer technology to India

  8th February 2021

  Thales is one example of a company willing to transfer technical know-how to Indian companies.

• Land Warfare

  Elbit announces more overseas orders for vehicle subsystems

  9th February 2021

  Israeli company confirms participation in Dutch CV90 upgrade, while another Asia-Pacific contract tallies with requirements in the Philippines.

• Training

  Finland continues training reform, adds VSATs

  5th February 2021

  Through the Education 2020 initiative, the Finnish Defence Forces continues to modernise the way it delivers training. Part of this process includes the wider use of virtual simulation. Two new VSATs have been added, the last one in January 2021.

• Digital Battlespace

  Hensoldt eyes laser-based countermeasures with Fraunhofer tie-up

  25th January 2021

  Robust laser applications are being developed for self-protection and reconnaissance systems.

• Naval Warfare

  South Korea plumbs the ocean depths

  10th February 2021

  South Korea is becoming prolific in its development of indigenous vessels for tasks performed on the surface or under the water, and many of these designs are unmanned.

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 ...