• Air Warfare

  UK disposable frontline drones set for 2025 deployment while collaborative platforms await decision

  28th March 2024

  Reflecting on lessons learned from the cancellation of the Mosquito programme, the Royal Air Force has redefined the role of uncrewed systems within its ranks through a tiered system.

• Naval Warfare

  Are ‘kamikaze’ USVs a game changer in naval warfare?

  20th March 2024

  The use of uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs) by Ukraine in strike operations against the Russian Navy in the Black Sea has been extremely successful. But it is likely that the long-term impact could be limited.

• Land Warfare

  Azerbaijan turns to Israeli MoD for weaponry as tensions with Armenia rise

  15th March 2024

  Increasing tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia have prompted new military requests from Baku to Israel amid diplomatic efforts for peace.

• Air Warfare

  Rafael’s Ice and Sea Breaker readies for production

  23rd February 2024

  Rafael revealed at the Singapore Airshow 2024 that production was about to commence on the Ice and Sea Breaker for two customers who signed up for the missile two years ago.

• Defence Notes

  Boeing fined $51 million due to unauthorised exports

  5th March 2024

  An administrative settlement between the US Department of State and the manufacturer resolved 199 violations of US regulations including unauthorised exports of technical data to China.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Australia pumps more money into the MQ-28A Ghost Bat programme

  9th February 2024

  The funding towards the MQ-28A Ghost Bat will facilitate the delivery of three Block 2 aircraft with enhanced design and improved capabilities.

• Air Warfare

  KAI develops MUM-T alongside fighter program

  28th February 2024

  KAI has been developing manned-unmanned teaming and air-launched effects technologies to be operated alongside its domestically developed KF-21 Boramae fighter.

• Land Warfare

  Ukraine sends indigenous transport UGV to war for testing

  10th November 2023

  The Sirko-S1 UGV has been designed for load carrying but plans are already in place to add additional capability such as mine clearance and medical evacuation.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  UAE orders 200 EDGE uncrewed cargo and ISR helicopters

  25th January 2024

  The UAE has awarded a substantial contract to EDGE Group for 200 uncrewed helicopters at UMEX 2024.

• Land Warfare

  British Army’s new Apaches come online as the force confronts new challenges

  28th February 2024

  The British Army’s new fleet of attack helicopters are a major step-change from the previous various and the force has a strong focus on the opportunities for spiral development and crewed-uncrewed teaming.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Singapore Airshow 2024: Interest in Rafael’s Spike FireFly has increased after combat use in Gaza

  21st February 2024

  The Spike FireFly saw operational use in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in 2023 which has led to increased interest in the loitering munition.

• Air Warfare

  US Army cancels FARA helicopter programmes to fund UAS and Black Hawk procurement

  9th February 2024

  The cancellation of the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) has reflected a shift in focus towards uncrewed systems in response to evolving battlefield dynamics and lessons learned from recent conflicts.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Ready for the race: Air separation drone swarms vs. air defence systems

  11th April 2024

  As the dynamics of aerial combat rapidly evolve, Chinese scientists have engineered a sophisticated air separation drone model that can fragment into up to six drones, each capable of executing distinct battlefield roles and challenging the efficacy of current anti-drone defences such as the UK’s Dragonfire laser system.

• Land Warfare

  BAE delivers first full-rate production amphibious C2 vehicle

  15th January 2024

  The Amphibious Combat Vehicle Command and Control (ACV-C) will provide the US Marine Corps with a mobile command centre to enable situational awareness and operations planning in the battlespace.

• Naval Warfare

  World Defense Show 2024: BAE Systems to demonstrate USV system at Defense Services Asia

  6th February 2024

  Nautomate, an autonomous control system for uncrewed marine vehicles, can provide assured mission delivery in complex, congested and contested environments. The system will be demonstrated on a United Engineering Systems P38 boat at DSA in Malaysia in May 2024.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | Heavy Lift Capability (UASHLC) [UK]

  The Royal Navy's (RN) Uncrewed Aerial Systems Heavy Lift Capability (UASHLC), or Heavy Lift Challenge, is a developmental programme exploring cargo-carrying uncrewed technology and new acquisition approaches.  Phase ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | Heavy Lift Capability (UASHLC) [UK]

  The Royal Navy's (RN) Uncrewed Aerial Systems Heavy Lift Capability (UASHLC), or Heavy Lift Challenge, is a developmental programme exploring cargo-carrying uncrewed technology and new acquisition approaches.  Phase ...

• Minehunters

  Project SEA 1905 - MMCMMS [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirements Australia is looking to acquire up to eight new advanced mine countermeasures/hydrographic survey vessels under the Project SEA 1905 Maritime Mine Countermeasures ...

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

  Thor [Israel]

  Background Various Contracts On 3 December 2024, the Israeli Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced it had purchased “advanced drones and autonomous systems” from Elbit Systems in various ...

• Transport

  VC-25B - USAF

  The modifications to the 747-8 aircraft will include an electrical power upgrade with dual Auxiliary Power Units that are usable in flight, a mission communication ...

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

  StormShroud: Autonomous Collaboration Platform (ACP) [UK]

  Background Autonomous Collaboration Platform (ACP) Strategy Reflecting on lessons learned from the cancellation of the Mosquito programme, the Royal Air Force (RAF) redefined the role ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) Programme Block II [UK]

  Under Block II of the RN's Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) programme, the UK is expected to acquire three Offshore Support Vessels (OSVs) designed to be ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) Programme Block II [UK]

  Under Block II of the RN's Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) programme, the UK is expected to acquire three Offshore Support Vessels (OSVs) designed to be ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  T-150 (Royal Marines) [UK]

  Background Trials In late 2020, the T-150 participated in Autonomous Advance Force (AAF) trials in Crpyus and dropped supplies to 40 Commando. The MoD also ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  Hürkuş-C Advanced Armed Trainer (Turkey)

  The Hurjet-C development programme funding was included in the Hurkus-B procurement contract awarded by  the Turkish Undersecretariat for Defence Industries in December 2013.  The Hurjet will ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | Project Proteus [UK]

  Project Proteus is an RN and Leonardo effort to design and develop an uncrewed helicopter demonstrator that could provide an innovative alternative to existing crewed ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | Project Proteus [UK]

  Project Proteus is an RN and Leonardo effort to design and develop an uncrewed helicopter demonstrator that could provide an innovative alternative to existing crewed ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  T-150 (Ukraine Aid) [UK]

  Programme Background Virtual Address On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. On 3 May 2022, the UK's Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, virtually addressed the Ukrainian ...

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

  QX-2 (Forecast) [Brazilian Marine Corps]

  Programme Background Four-Day Tour On 3 August 2023, EDGE Group announced that it had hosted a four-day delegation from the Brazilian Marine Crops, showing it ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  A-SADS [India]

  Programme Background As reported by Shephard, following an RfP published in mid-2021, a $15 million fast-track contract was awarded to NewSpace Research and Technologies in ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military UGVs

  Rook

  The Rook is a 6x6 multipurpose UGV developed by Elbit in partnership with Roboteam. Conceived to carry heavy payloads in a wide range of environments, the ...

• Military UGVs

  Arion-SMET

  The Arion-SMET is a fully electric 6x6 multipurpose UGV developed and produced by Hanwha Defense. With a payload of 550kg, the UGV can travel for up ...

• Military UGVs

  Oto-TRP7-HS

  The Oto-TRP7-HS (Homeland Security) is a semi-autonomous, electric-powered, tracked UGV. It is designed to undertake a number of homeland security missions. 

• Military UGVs

  Rex Mk II

  The Rex Mk II is a UGV manufactured by Isreal Aerospace Industries (IAI). It is a multimission system designed to provide direct support to manoeuvring infantry ...

• Military UGVs

  Mission Master CXT

  Part of Rheinmetall's Mission Master family, The Mission Mater Compact Extreme Terrain, or Mission Master CXT, is a rugged UGV designed to transport heavy payloads ...

• Military UGVs

  Barkan

  The Barkan, or Barkan-2, is a Turkish UGV manufactured by Havelsan. A fully electric propulsion system powers the tracked, modular vehicle, which can be armed with a 7.62mm ...

• Military UGVs

  Shadow Rider

  Unveiled for the first time at IDEF 2019 and showcased with improvements at IDEF 2021, the Shadow Rider is a UGV developed and built by ...

• Military UGVs

  Ermine UGV

  At Eurosatory 2024, Rheinmetall presented the Ermine family of tactical vehicles. The modular Ermine family currently consists of a UGV, a side-by-side buggy and a ...

• Military UGVs

  Marker

  The Marker is a Russian UGV manufactured by Androidnaya Tekhnika. Development started in 2018, and the three-tonne UGV is now capable of supporting anti-tank missile systems, coaxial ...

• Military UGVs

  Centurio

  At Eurosatory 2024, KNDS unveiled the Centurio family of 4x4 UGVs. Based on the Phobos UGV by SOGECLAIR, Centurio has been developed in the 2024-30 ...

• Military UGVs

  Viking

  The Viking is a high-mobility 6x6 multipurpose UGV developed and produced by IDV Robotics. The UGV can be configured to perform different missions, from logistic ...

• Military UGVs

  Quator/Quator XL

  Quator is a scout, observation, inspection and detection robot suitable for rapid-response scenarios. Quator XL builds on the transportation capabilities of the smaller version, weighing ...

• Military UGVs

  Oshkosh Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV)

  The Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) is a tracked UGV developed by Oshkoshl in partnership with Pratt & Miller and QinetiQ. In September 2023, as part of ...

• Military UGVs

  Valkyrie

  The Valkyrie is a 6x6 UGV developed by the Spanish company SASCorp. It was unveiled for the first time at FINDEF 2021. The platform has reportedly ...

• Military UGVs

  Titan UGV

  The Titan large UGV is a hybrid system built on the Milrem Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System (THeMIS) combined with QinetiQ North America's Tactical Robot Controller ...