• Defence Notes

  Romania boosts defence spending

  3rd August 2017

  Romania’s Supreme Defence Council (CSAT) has approved the Armed Forces Endowment Plan 2017-2026, as Bucharest vies to meet NATO’s 2% of GDP spending target, it was …

• Defence Helicopter

  Can I sell you a used Black Hawk?

  4th August 2017

  The US Army Contracting Command Redstone, on behalf of the Utility Helicopters Project Management Office, has announced the availability of 14 more UH-60A Black Hawk …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  NZ seeks replacement EOD robots

  9th August 2017

  The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) is seeking replacement explosive ordnance (EOD) disposal robots, with an RfP recently issued on 4 August. The requirement covers …

• Special Operations

  Interview: Polish Special Forces commander

  26th July 2017

  On 14 March 2017, Brig Gen Wojciech Marchwica took over as Commander of Poland’s Special Operations Component Command (POL SOCC) with a remit to further …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  There Israeli no driver

  4th August 2017

  Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has detailed the development of an unmanned HMMWV likely to be destined for use with the Israel Defence Forces (IDF).  Last …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  LARS system demonstrated on C-Worker ASV

  1st August 2017

  ASV Global has demonstrated the functionality of a micro autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) launch and recovery system (LARS) on the C-Worker 5 autonomous surface vehicle …

• Defence Helicopter

  Brazilian Army eyes new utility helicopters

  2nd August 2017

  The Brazilian Army is paving the way to launch an acquisition procedure to replace its incumbent fleet of Cougars and Black Hawks. The army currently operates …

• Naval Warfare

  GSL delivers OPV to Sri Lankan Navy

  31st July 2017

  Goa Shipyard (GSL) delivered a new offshore patrol vessel (OPV) to the Sri Lankan Navy on 22 July 2017. Designed in-house and built by GSL, …

• Defence Helicopter

  German Army Tiger helicopter crashes in Mali

  2nd August 2017

  An Airbus Helicopters Tiger attack helicopter belonging to the German Helicopter Detachment (HELIDET) based in Gao, Mali, crashed South of Tabankort on 26 July according …

• Land Warfare

  Lockheed’s Camden facility delivers HIMARS

  28th July 2017

  Lockheed Martin has delivered the first High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launcher in which both the chassis and launcher components were manufactured at its …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  European UAS moves forward, slowly

  1st August 2017

  The European MALE RPAS programme continues to move forward, albeit slowly, as the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) announced an agreement has been made …

• Military Logistics

  US Army explores cold weather ‘boot gap’

  2nd August 2017

  The US Army Contracting Command, on behalf of the army’s product manager for clothing and individual equipment, has announced its intent to award two firm …

• Land Warfare

  US Army to field XM17 from November

  26th July 2017

  The US Army will begin fielding the new Sig Sauer XM17 Modular Handgun to soldiers in November 2017, it was announced on 21 July. The US …

• Land Warfare

  US Army studies M249 replacement

  3rd August 2017

  In the aftermath of a classified industry day of briefings and discussions, the US Army is calling for industry white papers to detail potential replacements …

• Naval Warfare

  USCG in budgetary dilemma

  26th July 2017

  The US Coast Guard (USCG) continues to lack a clear fleet modernisation plan and it remains unclear if the service can afford all the new …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Wolverine / Honeybadger [US]

  Programme Background During the Modern Day Marine (MDM) exhibition, held in Washington between 10-12 May 2022, XTEND announced it would supply hundreds of Wolverine platforms ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Short Range Reconnaissance (SRR) (Tranche 2) / Rucksack Portable UAS (RPUAS) [USA]

  Programme Background The Rucksack Portable UAS (RPUAS) Programme The RPUAS programme will provide the battalion and below-ground manoeuvre elements within the US Army with an ...

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

  Short Range/Short Endurance (SR/SE) [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

  Warmate [Ukraine]

  Programme Background Ukraine placed an order for an undisclosed number of Warmate systems in 2017. Shepherd believes units acquired in this order later were utilised ...

• Special operations vehicles

  Ashok Leyland LBPV (India - Air Force)

  Programme Background The IAF created the Garud commando force in 2004 to protect its airbases, carry out combat search and rescue and conduct covert operations ...

• Minehunters

  Awaji Class

  Programme Background Two Awaji class mine countermeasures vessels (MCMV) were ordered from the Japanese shipyard Japan Marine United (JMU) for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) initially. ...

• OPVs

  Inlay Class (second OPV)

  Programme Background The Inlay class originally consists of a single OPV in service with the Myanmar Navy. However, a second Inlay-class OPV has been reported under construction since ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4

  Eagle V 4x4

  According to documents released by the Danish Ministry of Defence, a total of 233.6 million Danish Krone (US$34.669 million) were allocated to this programme. 62.1 ...

• OPVs

  Cyprus Second Sa'ar 62 OPV

  Programme BackgroundThe Republic of Cyrus' Ministry of Defence placed an order with Israel Shipyards for its first Sa'ar 62  OPV in December 2015 in a project valued ...

• Loitering munitions

  Warmate (2017) [Poland]

  Programme Background Order In November 2017, Poland ordered 100 sets of Warmate loitering munitions, each consisting of ten platforms, for a reported 100 million Polish Zloty ...

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

  HUSAR (2023 Order) [Germany]

  Programme Background First Order In 2015, the German Army launched the HUSAR programme to identify a replacement for its Airbus Defence & Space KZO and ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Makassar Class LPD (7)

  Indonesia signed a contract for $150 million for two LPDs in the Makassar class, KRI Makassar and KRI Surabaya, with South Korean shipbuilder Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering ...

• Patrol boats

  Rajshree Class (Flight II)

  Programme BackgroundThe Rajshree class is to consist of 13 FPVs built in two separate flights. Flight I saw construction begin in 2010 and all eight vessels ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  MDM-HF

  The MDM-3001, MDM-2201 and MDM-2501 multi-mode HF data modems provide single-tone (serial) HF data communications capability in accordance with the requirements of MIL-STD-188-110A (para 5.3). ...

• Data links

  Link 11 DTS

  The programmable Data Terminal Set (DTS) uses real-time processor architectures and signal processing algorithms. It is designed for controlled network operation in a Link 11 ...

• 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. ...

• Data links

  MDM-2X02N

  The MDM-2X02N is a tactical data link modem that combines the functionalities of a Link 11 DTS and Link 22 signal processor controller (SPC) into ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  MDM-Q9604

  Collins Aerospace’s MDM-Q9604 high-speed, high-data-rate HF modem is capable of transmitting data over a standard 3KHz single sideband at 9,600b/s or a 6kHz ISB at ...

• 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 ...

• EW test systems, Air: chaff, flare and decoy systems

  CAST-easy

  RUAG unveiled the Countermeasure Advanced System Test Equipment (CAST-easy) in 2017 earmarking it for the Panavia Tornado series of combat aircraft. The 2017 announcement stated ...

• Naval guns, Land: RWS

  Dragonfire

  Dragonfire is a new laser weapon system built for the UK MoD, receiving £30 million of funding in early 2017. The design of the gun ...

• Counter-UAS systems

  Drone Deterrence System

  First unveiled at the LIMA 2017 exhibition by Mitsubishi Electric, the Drone Deterrence System began to be developed in 2014 and made its first sale in ...

• Military - UUVs

  ThunderFish Alpha

  The ThunderFish Alpha (formerly DeDAvE) is an AUV designed for deep-sea military, commercial and scientific applications. In March 2017, Kraken announced a licensing agreement for ...

• Self-propelled mortars

  2S42 Lotos

  The 2S42 Lotos (Lotus) is a self-propelled artillery system that is being developed by Rostec subsidiary TsNIITochMash to replace the Russian VDV airborne forces' and ...

• Self-propelled rocket launchers

  Fletcher

  Arnold Defense, which has produced more than 1.1 million 2.75in/70mm rocket launchers for airborne applications since 1961, unveiled the Fletcher 2.75in/70mm Weapon System at the September ...

• Minehunters

  Kormoran II Class

  Three Kormoran II-class minehunters were budgeted for the Polish Navy in 2011, and a contract was placed for a prototype in 2013, with the first ...

• OPVs

  La Confiance Class (PLG)

  The La Confiance-class, also known as the Guyanese Light Patrol Vessel (PLG), in service with the French Navy, was designed by Bureau Mauric and built ...

• Submachine guns

  FN SCAR-SC

  FN Herstal unveiled the 5.56mm FN SCAR-SC (Subcompact Carbine), the newest member of the SCAR (SOF Combat Assault Rifle) family originally developed for the US ...