• Digital Battlespace

  Pentagon takes meaningful steps towards a viable military Internet of Things

  4th December 2020

  Efforts continue to place Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2)​ firmly in the Pentagon's long-term acquisition plans.

• Training

  Lockheed Martin to develop dual-capable pilot training software for F-35

  22nd October 2020

  Training device development comes in parallel with moves to enable the F-35A to carry nuclear weaponry

• Land Warfare

  Philippines selects new tracked and wheeled armour

  27th October 2020

  An Israeli company enjoys continued success in the Philippines after being selected to provide three different classes of AFV

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  FLIR lifts lid on Black Hornet software upgrade and further NBCRV SSU development

  26th October 2020

  Software upgrade to Black Hornet returns the nano-UAV to the operator if data link connection is lost

• Defence Notes

  US approves bold arms package for Taiwan

  22nd October 2020

  The US is willing to sell advanced weapons to Taiwan, including offensive missiles, in a move that will incense Beijing

• Digital Battlespace

  Unlocking the future battlespace with multi-intelligence (Studio)

  2nd December 2020

  The combination of sensors is key to forming a comprehensive picture of the modern battlefield.

• Land Warfare

  Philippines inducts ATVs and continues army modernisation

  4th November 2020

  All-terrain vehicles are just one new platform for the Philippine Army as it inducts trucks, tactical vehicles, mortar carriers and eyes MANPADS

• Land Warfare

  German MoD will improve radio communication with new portable systems

  13th November 2020

  The German MoD will acquire 913 portable radios (AN/PRC-117G) from the American company L3Harris to replace the AN/PRC-117F version. This model and its corresponding previous versions have been in service with the national armed forces for ten years.

• Defence Helicopter

  Philippines selects its first helicopters from Russia

  10th November 2020

  The Philippine Air Force receives its first Black Hawks from Poland, but new Russian-built helicopters are on their way too

• Land Warfare

  JLTV to integrate Kongsberg 30mm RWS

  23rd September 2020

  Kongsberg Protech Systems USA will provide its XM914 RWS to the USMC for the Marine Air Defense Integrated System. The RWS was ordered by the …

• Land Warfare

  Saab to deliver more Carl-Gustaf M3E1 to US from 2021

  16th October 2020

  The US Army is an existing user of the shoulder-fired weapon; deliveries under latest contract to begin in 2021

• Defence Notes

  USMC sharpens its posture in Guam and Japan

  2nd October 2020

  The US Marine Corps (USMC) has long planned to realign marine units from Okinawa to the US territory of Guam in the Western Pacific.  That …

• Naval Warfare

  Columbia-class construction deal marks a watershed for USN

  11th November 2020

  Exception to usual budgeting rules allows work to proceed on first pair of new SSBNs – but will there be implications for other USN modernisation programmes?

• Defence Helicopter

  Lockheed Martin gains engineering work on Vipers

  29th October 2020

  Company to produce target designator sets and EO systems for FMS customers

• Defence Helicopter

  China remains drawn to Russian helicopters

  12th November 2020

  Development of indigenous helicopter types has not stopped Beijing from buying Russian-made military helicopters

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 ...