• Defence Helicopter

  Netherlands starts upgraded CH-47F deliveries

  14th April 2021

  The Royal Netherlands Air Force has welcomed a new CH-47F heavy-lift helicopter, fitted with an upgraded cockpit.

• Digital Battlespace

  UK review puts faith in cyber and AI

  23rd March 2021

  How do the technologies of the future fit into the latest strategic review of UK defence policy?

• Training

  Russian and Chinese threats drive US Army OPFOR vehicle programme

  19th March 2021

  Although it is upgrading many of its OPFOR Surrogate Vehicles, the US Army has started the ball rolling on replacing the current M113-based fleet with prototypes expected over the next two years.

• Air Warfare

  Air Warfare magazine: attack helicopters, F-35 update and more

  9th April 2021

  Read the latest edition of Air Warfare for free in our app or on your desktop.

• Land Warfare

  Rheinmetall denies Challenger 2 upgrade contract speculation

  19th March 2021

  Rheinmetall has poured cold water on social media speculation about signing a £750 million ($1.4 billion) contract from the UK to upgrade Challenger 2 MBTs, saying instead that is still negotiating with the MoD. The future of the MBT Life Extension Programme will be defined by the second part of the Integrated Review.

• Land Warfare

  India lodges light tactical vehicle order with Mahindra

  23rd March 2021

  Via a 'Make in India' contract, the Indian Army is beefing up protection levels for its troops using light vehicles.

• Land Warfare

  Germany modifies Puma before NATO task force deployment

  22nd March 2021

  Improvements were made to the Puma IFV after an operational test in July 2020 identified ‘significant defects’.

• Defence Helicopter

  Colombia expects presidential helicopter this spring

  11th January 2021

  Leonardo AW139 to be used as VVIP transport helicopter; the Italian OEM is also offering the AW139M to the Colombian armed forces.

• Land Warfare

  'Deplorable' AFV programmes leave British Army at risk from peer adversaries, Defence Committee warns

  16th March 2021

  Released just before the first part of the Integrated Review is unveiled on 16 March, the latest House of Commons Defence Committee report highlighted obsolescence in the British Army armoured vehicle fleet and warned that the service is at serious risk of being outmatched by its most challenging peer adversaries.

• Air Warfare

  US Army orders more air-to-ground missiles

  12th March 2021

  UK named as one of the recipients in latest US Army missile contract modification for Lockheed Martin.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Textron to perform Shadow Block III upgrade

  19th March 2021

  Upgrade contract for Shadow comes after US Army conducted Follow-on Operational Test and Evaluation (FOT&E) of the Block III configuration in late 2020.

• Digital Battlespace

  UK selects BAE Systems missile warning equipment support and sustainment

  1st April 2021

  BAE Systems continues to support its Common Missile Warning System in UK service.

• Land Warfare

  US Army field artillery seeks faster firing and force ‘thickening’

  16th March 2021

  Army Futures Command is exploring how small business can help to deliver future artillery solutions, while it is also planning to showcase remotely fired and remotely operated rockets in June.

• Land Warfare

  US Army receives more Paladins

  9th March 2021

  Latest deliveries of self-propelled guns and ammunition carriers form part of moves to enhance Armored Brigade Combat Teams.

• Land Warfare

  US Army places emphasis on transformational vehicle capabilities

  12th March 2021

  The US Army is intensifying efforts to add advanced capabilities to its next generation of combat vehicles. The army plans to embed the newest sensors and technologies into these platforms, to ensure survivability, mobility, lethality and volume of fire.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4

  Titan-B

  Programme Background Colombia is understood to have a requirement for as many as 100 APCs capable of carrying up to 20 troops and protecting their ...

• Military UAS - small

  Small UAV (Colombia)

  Programme Background Many of the Colombian military's UAVs are operated by the Colombian Air Force, but the Colombian Army has also employed several different types ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4

  Titan-C

  Programme Background Colombia is understood to have a requirement for as many as 100 APCs capable of carrying up to 20 troops and protecting their ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Colombia M113A3

  Programme Background The Colombian Army currently operates 54 M113A1 and M113A2 APCs, which are divided among two mechanised infantry battalions and a training school. Known ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4

  Surplus M1117 Guardian ASV (Colombia)

  Programme Background The Colombian Army has requested surplus M1117s to assist with counter-insurgency and counter-narcotics operations. Due to a lack of armoured vehicles suitable for ...

• Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles

  PETEF - Light Tactical Vehicles

  The Colombian MoD has not outlined how many new patrol vehicles will be needed to equip all seven of the light cavalry groups, nor how ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4

  Secure Personnel Transport Vehicle (Colombia - Forecast)

  Programme Background Colombia is understood to have a requirement for as many as 100 APCs capable of carrying up to 20 troops and protecting their ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  PETEF - LAV III (Colombia)

  Programme Background Since the replacement of the M113 is understood to be a priority for the Colombian Army, it is anticipated that a contract could ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4

  Secure Personnel Transport Vehicle (Colombia - Announced)

  Programme Background Colombia is understood to have a requirement for as many as 100 APCs capable of carrying up to 20 troops and protecting their ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  Coelum (Colombia)

  Programme Background Testing Colombian Aeronautical Industry Cooperation (CIAC) was working on a project called Dron Coelum X-001. In late 2020, the CIAC tested a redesigned prototype of the ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  PETEF - Tracked IFV

  Since a programme to procure a tracked IFV has yet to be launched by the Colombian Army, it is unclear how many tracked IFVs could ...

• Tanks

  PETEF - MBT

  The Colombian Army has evaluated several offers for MBT platforms in the past, though none of these have progressed to the formal contract stage. For ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Kfir Replacement (Colombia)

  Programme Background In May 2021, budget constraints prompted new Colombian finance minister José Manuel Restrepo (in post since 3 May) to place on indefinite hold ...

• Frigates

  Plataforma Estratégica de Superficie (PES) - Frigate Acquisition Programme [Colombia]

  Programme Background The replacement of the existing ageing Almirante Padilla-class frigates was first initiated in 2015. The predecessors, built by Germany's Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) have been in service ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Type 206/209 Replacement (PLOTEOS) [Colombia]

  The 2042 "Plan de Desarrollo Naval" (Naval Development Plan) outlines the intention to procure four new SSKs for the Colombian Navy. Saab, Navantia and Naval ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4

  Titan

  Blindex developed the Titan series of APCs to provide the Colombian Army with an affordable means of transporting large numbers of troops for internal security ...

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

  Quimbaya X-003

  The Quimbaya X-003 is a Colombian fixed-wing UAV designed and developed by the Colombian Aeronautical Industry Corporation (CIAC). Reportedly, following evaluation tests in late 2023, ...

• Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles

  M1117 Guardian ASV

  In December 1995, the US Army selected a design based on the Textron ASV 150 to provide the military police with a vehicle that combined ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  Coelum

  Manufactured by Corporación de la Industria Aeronáutica Colombiana (CIAC), the Coelum is a mini UAV that is fitted with a 40x zoom EO/IR camera payload for ISR missions.  The ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  PRC-710

  The PRC-710 is a VHF/FM voice and data handheld radio with COMSEC and ECCM capabilities. Designed in response to emerging combat requirements, the PRC-710 is ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  LPR 40 MKII

  The LPR acts as a command boat for the group of tactical riverine combat boats operated by the Colombian Marine Corps. It is equipped with ...

• EO/IR systems, Sea: optronic masts and periscopes

  SERO 250

  The SERO 250 is a compact submarine periscope that can be installed in both new-build and upgraded boats. Little or no structural modifications are required ...

• Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles

  SCTV

  The Survivable Combat Tactical Vehicle (SCTV), developed by Textron Marine & Land Systems and Granite Tactical Vehicles, is an upgrade solution for the AM General ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  Airmor

  Airmor is an autonomous modular countermeasure SPS designed for helicopters and transport aircraft. Airmor’s core components are IMI’s management control unit (MCU), which processes information ...

• OPVs

  OPV 93C

  The OPV 93C is an offshore patrol vessel designed and developed by Cotecmar. The Colombian Navy ordered one platform in November 2022 and one in ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  MD 500

  The MD 500 is a single-engine light helicopter derived from the Hughes OH-6A Cayuse developed for the US Army in the early 1960s and the ...

• Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles

  SandCat

  The 4x4 SandCat family of vehicles was designed by Israeli armour specialist Plasan Sasa in 2005 for a range of military, special operations, homeland security, ...

• Submarines: conventional, attack

  Type 209/1200

  The Type 209/1200 diesel-electric submarine is a variant of the Type 209 submarine designed by the German company Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft exclusively for the export market. ...

• Naval guns

  OTO Strales/Davide

  The OTO Strales represents the second iteration of the OTO 76/62mm Super Rapido gun from Leonardo. The weapon, which is in service with the Italian ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  EMB-312 Tucano

  The EMB-312 Tucano (Brazilian designation T-27) is a trainer and light attack aircraft developed by Embraer to meet the training requirements of the Brazilian Air ...