• Naval Warfare

  Australia fast-tracks extra patrol boats

  1st May 2020

  Australian Defence Minister Linda Reynolds announced on 1 May that her country’s navy would receive six additional Cape-class patrol boats, to be built by Austal. …

• Training

  CAE helo training triggers protest

  14th May 2020

  The US Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command (MICC) in Fort Eustis, Virginia, has awarded Tampa-based CAE USA a $11.12 million contract for advanced helicopter …

• Naval Warfare

  USCG sees light at end of tunnel for Offshore Patrol Cutter build

  14th April 2020

  The head of the US Coast Guard has said that the Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) programme was ‘back on track’, after damage to Eastern Shipbuilding …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Parrot to produce SRR prototypes for US Army

  16th April 2020

  Parrot Drones has passed another milestone in the US Short Range Reconnaissance UAV programme. As part of its preparation for the final stage of the …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Parrot to produce SRR prototypes for US Army

  16th April 2020

  Parrot Drones has passed another milestone in the US Short Range Reconnaissance UAV programme. As part of its preparation for the final stage of the …

• Defence Notes

  COVID-19 ripple effects cause lasting strategic headaches

  12th May 2020

  The 75th anniversary of VE Day on 8 May marked the end of the Second World War in Europe. The intervening years have seen the continent …

• Naval Warfare

  Australia gifts Guardian-class patrol vessel to Fiji

  6th March 2020

  The Royal Australian Navy gifted a newly built patrol boat to the government of Fiji on 6 March, in a ceremony at shipbuilder Austal’s Henderson …

• Land Warfare

  US Army starts to receive new Sub Compact Weapon

  30th March 2020

  Deliveries of the US Army’s Sub Compact Weapon (SCW) are under way, following the selection of the APC9K weapon (pictured). Casca Long, a spokesperson for …

• Training

  Aussie Hornets grow old but never die

  6th March 2020

  The Australian DoD announced on 5 March that up to 46 surplus Boeing F/A-18 Hornet fighters will be sold to Air USA for use as …

• Naval Warfare

  USS Kansas City handed over to US Navy

  13th February 2020

  The US Navy has taken delivery of littoral combat ship (LCS) 22 at a ceremony at Austal USA in Mobile, Alabama. The future USS Kansas …

• Training

  CAE MSI adds more business

  5th March 2020

  Tampa, Florida-based CAE USA-Mission Solutions Inc (CAE MSI) has been awarded a US$10.6 million firm-fixed-price modification contract for F-15E, F-16C/D and F-22A contract aircrew training …

• Naval Warfare

  Austal, US Navy ABR announced

  3rd February 2020

  Austal shipyards and service centres in Australia have been approved to bid for and provide support services for US Navy and Military Sealift Command (MSC) …

• Training

  P-8 simulators to enhance RAF’s operational capability

  24th February 2020

  With the first of nine Poseidon MRA1 maritime patrol aircraft now delivered to the UK RAF, preparations are under way for the installation of the …

• Defence Notes

  Combat air set to play the fall guy in UK defence review

  6th March 2020

  As high-profile budget difficulties tie the UK government to making tough, long-term procurement decisions across air, land and sea domains, the RAF’s combat air plans …

• Air Warfare

  F-35s carry out night landings on HMS Queen Elizabeth

  12th February 2020

  The first night landings on HMS Queen Elizabeth have been carried out by four F-35 Lightning jets in UK waters. Operational training being carried out …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) [USN]

  Programme Background Timeline Austal USA is building all the Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) vessels to the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) standards for the use ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Navajo Class (T-ATS)

  Programme Background Requirements The US Navy (USN) are replacing the ageing three remaining T-ATF 166 class tugboats and two remaining T-ARS 50 class ships with ...

• Landing craft and hovercraft

  Landing Craft Utility (LCU) 1700 [USN]

  Programme Background Timeline The US Navy LCU 1700 amphibious landing craft are being procured to replace the ageing LCU 1610 class, which has an average ...

• OPVs

  Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPC 5 to OPC 15) [USCG]

  Programme Background Timeline The Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) programme began in 2014 when the Coast Guard awarded $64 million in design contracts to Eastern. Bolliger ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  T-AGOS Surtass Ships (1-5) [USN]

  Programme Background Requirements The Auxiliary General Ocean Surveillance (T-AGOS) ships focus on gathering underwater acoustical data to support the mission of the Integrated Undersea Surveillance System ...

• Frigates

  Littoral Combat Ship (LCS)

  Programme Background The Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) programme was developed in 2003 as a cheap and fast way to increase the size of the fleet ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | T-AGOS Surtass Ships (6-7) [USN]

  The US Navy, through the T-AGOS(X) programme, is looking to procure seven new Ocean Surveillance Ships. The new vessels are intended to replace five ageing ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | T-AGOS Surtass Ships (6-7) [USN]

  The US Navy, through the T-AGOS(X) programme, is looking to procure seven new Ocean Surveillance Ships. The new vessels are intended to replace five ageing ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | T-AGOS Surtass Ships (1-5) [USN]

  The US Navy, through the T-AGOS(X) programme, is looking to procure seven new Ocean Surveillance Ships. The new vessels are intended to replace five ageing TAGOS ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | T-AGOS Surtass Ships (1-5) [USN]

  The US Navy, through the T-AGOS(X) programme, is looking to procure seven new Ocean Surveillance Ships. The new vessels are intended to replace five ageing TAGOS ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Medium Landing Ship (9-18) [USMC]

  Programme Background Requirements As part of the US Marine Corps' future force structure, it is developing a new platform under the Medium Lading Ship programme ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  T-AGOS Surtass Ships (6-7) [USN]

  Programme Background Requirements The Auxiliary General Ocean Surveillance (T-AGOS) ships focus on gathering underwater acoustical data to support the mission of the Integrated Undersea Surveillance ...

• Frigates

  Constellation Class - FFG(X) (11-20)

  Programme Background The FFG (X) programme was first announced with a Request for Information (RFI) released by the US Navy in July 2017 with a ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Medium Landing Ship (1-8) [USMC]

  Programme Background Development As part of the US Marine Corps' future force structure, it is developing a new platform under the Medium Lading Ship programme ...

• Patrol boats

  Evolved Cape Class (1-6) [Australia]

  Programme Background Austal was awarded a contract to build six 'Evolved' Cape-class patrol boats for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) on 1 May 2020. The contract ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Navajo Class

  The Navajo-class is the USN's new class of towing, salvage, and rescue ships to replace the current T-ATF 166 and T-ARS 50 class ships. This ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Spearhead Class EPF

  The Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) (formerly the Joint High-Speed Vessel – JHSV, redesignated in September 2015) can transport troops and their equipment, supporting humanitarian relief ...

• Frigates

  Independence Class (LCS)

  The USN’s Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) programme was originally envisaged to be 50 ships, which would provide a coastal platform that would take over from ...

• Landing craft and hovercraft

  LCU 1700

  In 2018, Swiftships was awarded a contract for the Landing Craft Utility (LCU) 1700, which will replace the 32 ageing LCU 1610 class. The contract contains ...

• OPVs

  Heritage Class

  The Heritage-class Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) is under construction for the USCG to bridge the capability gap between the National Security Cutter, which patrols the ...

• Patrol boats

  Cape Class

  The Cape-class patrol boat was contracted to Australian company Austal in 2011 as a replacement for the Australian Customs and Border Protection fleet of Bay-class ...

• Patrol boats

  Guardian Class

  The Guardian-class Pacific Patrol Boats are being manufactured under the Pacific Patrol Boats Replacement project by the Australian shipbuilding company Austal. The project is aimed ...

• OPVs

  Offshore Patrol 83

  Australian company Austal unveiled its proposed design for the Philippine Navy's OPV  requirement at Pacific 2019. The affordable steel hull design also features an aluminium ...

• OPVs

  OPV 60/Lethal Cape Class

  During the Indo-Pacific 2022, Austal unveiled the new OPV (Offshore Patrol Vessel) 60 design. Austal offers the platform in three different configurations: Patrol, Surveillance and ...

• Landing craft and hovercraft

  Caimen 500

  Developed by BMT, the Caimen 500 is designed to deliver heavy rolling and cargo payload directly to a beach, hard standing or port. The design ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  High-Speed Support Vessels (HSSV) 72

  The High-Speed Support Vessel (HSSV) is a multi-mission theatre support solution based on Austal’s high-speed catamaran platform. The all-aluminium HSSV offers a range of capabilities to ...

• Corvettes

  Tasman Class (Avante 2200)

  During Indo Pacific 2023, Navantia Australia unveiled the Tasman-class corvette. The vessel is based on the Avante 2200 design, which has already been procured by ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  Taiwan Air Force P-3C OFT/OTT

  CAE USA designed and manufactured a suite of P-3C training devices for the Taiwan Air Force. The contract was awarded under the US FMS programme. ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  USN T-44C Training Services

  In late 2013, CAE USA received a contract to provide the USN with comprehensive T-44C aircrew training services at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas. CAE USA ...

• Patrol boats

  Bay Class

  The Australian Border Force's Bay-class patrol boats have been retired from Australian service but are in use with Sri Lanka and Malaysia. The primary roles of ...