• Land Warfare

  DSEI 2023: BAE ready to transfer CV90 upgrade work from Sweden to Netherlands

  13th September 2023

  BAE Systems Hägglunds has completed its first four upgraded CV9035NL infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) for the Royal Netherlands Army (RNLA), and the programme remains on track deliver to 122 enhanced platforms by the end of 2026.

• Air Warfare

  Saab buys UK AI company BlueBear with drone swarms and crewed-uncrewed teaming in mind

  31st August 2023

  Saab has purchased UK AI company BlueBear which gives the Swedish company a substantial boost in the field of AI and swarming technology at a time when both areas are burgeoning and increasingly coming to the attention of militaries worldwide.

• Air Warfare

  MARSS reveals plans for new counter-drone UAV and roadmap for Interceptor

  13th September 2023

  MARSS expects to begin testing its Interceptor Medium Range (MR) UAS against Class 2 UAVs later this year in Cornwall UK and has revealed details on the Interceptor Short Range (SR) UAS with soldier-carried deployment system.

• Training

  Royal Air Force begins training instructors on Protector UAV simulator in the US

  31st August 2023

  Personnel from the RAF's 54 Squadron are currently undertaking the first Instructor Operating Course (IOC) on Protector simulators at the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) Flight Test & Training Center in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

• Air Warfare

  Insight: Is the Watchkeeper UAV providing value for money for the British Army?

  8th September 2023

  The Watchkeeper UAS has garnered interest from countries like Poland and Romania, despite a chequered operational history in the UK. Shephard analyses the aircraft's capabilities and the cost they come at.

• Naval Warfare

  Dutch warships' mid-life upgrade to de-risk systems for future air defence frigate

  13th September 2023

  The Royal Netherland’s Navy (RNLN’s) four De Zeven Provincien-class (LCF) frigates are near to completing a series of upgrades that will enable the ships to operate effectively until replacements are delivered, with the refit informing future requirements.

• Naval Warfare

  DSEI 2023: Has the Royal Navy cut back its support vessel fleet too far?

  11th September 2023

  This second in Shephard’s three-part series examining the state of the UK RN analyses the fleet of support ships. These important vessels sustain naval forces at sea for long durations and at vast distances, but cuts to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary's fleet have left crucial ships retired or sold, prompting concerns for future missions.

• Naval Warfare

  Corvette collaboration – how Europe is pooling skills and funds in a time of need

  13th September 2023

  When it comes to security, NATO tends to make the headlines more often than the EU. Yet since the war in Ukraine broke out, there has been a quiet but determined strengthening of purely European defence. And it starts with budgets.

• Air Warfare

  Eurofighter Typhoon sales: what a difference a decade makes

  18th September 2023

  In the second week of August, BAE Systems released a statement confirming that 12 of 24 Typhoon Tranche 3 models had now arrived in Qatar. Despite this favourable export news, the aircraft’s industrial future remains somewhat clouded.

• Defence Notes

  The Imperative of Collaborative Innovation in European Defence (Opinion)

  7th September 2023

  The dynamics of global defence are shifting, and isolated endeavours are increasingly giving way to collaborative innovation, joint ventures, and partnerships. Steve Griessel, CEO of Paramount, argues that as Europe navigates its defence priorities, the pressing question is not what we must create but with whom we must join hands.

• Land Warfare

  Global armoured renaissance: new report reveals $25.6 billion surge in 8x8 wheeled armoured vehicle spending

  12th September 2023

  As global tensions intensify following the Russo-Ukraine conflict, the armoured vehicle market is undergoing a monumental shift, with an anticipated $25.6 billion investment in 8x8 wheeled vehicles by 2035.

• Training

  NATO, Latvia team up to test 5G for military comms solutions

  4th September 2023

  A Latvian-NATO operational technology exploration scheduled for October will involve trials with virtual and augmented realities, uncrewed vehicles, sensors and applications within a tactical 5G bubble.

• Naval Warfare

  German F127 frigate programme moves to next phase, while Dutch say still open to joint procurement

  1st September 2023

  The initial analysis for the first stage of Germany’s Next Generation Frigate – Air Defence (NGFrig-AD, F127) programme has been completed, while Dutch shipbuilder Damen has reasserted the Netherlands' interest in a joint procurement.

• Air Warfare

  A welcome observer? Workshare wrangles loom as Belgium joins SCAF future fighter effort

  12th September 2023

  Of the three major Western next-generation fighter programmes, the (arguably) French-led SCAF has received the least attention in English-speaking media. As Belgium gains observer status on the programme, what will this mean for the workshare arrangements between France, Germany and Spain?

• Air Warfare

  F-35 Lightning II: key facts about the world's most popular fifth-generation fighter jet

  18th September 2023

  This growing family of F-35 operators exemplifies the power of collective effort, fostering stronger diplomatic ties and contributing to the evolution of modern aerial warfare on a global scale.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Land Mobility Programme (Heavy Protected Mobility) [UK]

  Background Requirement Serving in several iterations since 1963, the FV432 Mk3 'Bulldog' remains operational and deployed as command vehicles, ambulances, and recovery vehicles within the British Army. Although mostly ...

• Military UAS - small

  AR3 (Ukraine Aid) [UK]

  Background £270 Million investment On 15 September 2025, the UK MoD noted that, since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the UK ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Land Mobility Programme (Medium Protected Mobility) [UK]

  This programme briefly introduces the wider Land Mobility Programme and then focuses on the Medium Protected Mobility (MPM) programme. Information on the LMV and MPM can ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Land Mobility Programme (Light Mobility Vehicle) [UK]

  This programme briefly introduces the wider Land Mobility Programme and then focuses on the Light Mobility Vehicle (LMV) programme. Information on the LPM and HPM can ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Flexible Tactical Uncrewed Air System (FTUAS) [UK]

  Background Tender notice and timeline On 25 May 2021, the MoD published a tender notice for the urgent acquisition of a UAS and ancillaries under ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Land Mobility Programme (Light Protected Mobility) [UK]

  This programme briefly introduces the wider Land Mobility Programme and then focuses on the Light Protected Mobility (LPM) programme. Information on the LMV and HPM can ...

• Main battle tanks

  Skyranger 35 (Leopard 1) [Ukraine]

  Programme Background Rheinmetall previously provided Ukraine with Skyranger 35s; however, these were mounted on truck chassis. The logic behind providing Ukraine with Skyranger 35 on ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Patria 6x6 [Norway]

  Background The CAVS programme brings together Finland, Denmark, Germany, Latvia, Sweden, Norway and the UK to develop an armoured vehicle based on the Patria 6x6 ...

• Destroyers

  Future Destroyers (13DDX) [Japan]

  Programme Background Requirements At CNE 2024, Vice Admiral Shinichi Imayoshi, Director General of Naval Systems at the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA), revealed that enhancing ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Patria 6x6 (Batch 2) [Norway]

  Programme Background The CAVS programme brings together Finland, Denmark, Germany, Latvia, Sweden, Norway and the UK to develop an armoured vehicle based on the Patria ...

• Submarines: conventional/attack

  Taigei Class (29SS) (1-2)

  Programme Background The Taigei-class (29SS) is the latest class of submarines to be developed for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). The class, which has been developed ...

• Main battle tanks

  Challenger 3 [UK]

  Background Developed as a replacement for the Challenger 2 MBT, the UK Ministry of Defence initiated initial development under its Challenger 2 Life Extension Programme ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Ajax IFV [UK]

  Background Prior to commencing development of the Ajax the UK utilised the Warrior was its primary IFV. However, the Warrior entered service in 1987 making it ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  UK supplied Fast Inshore Attack Craft (FIAC) [Ukraine]

  Programme Background It was first reported in late September 2020 that the UK could provide eight Barzan-class fast attack craft to Ukraine. The platform has been ...

• Submarines: conventional/attack

  Taigei Class (29SS) (3-7) [Japan]

  Background The Taigei-class (29SS) is the latest class of submarines to be developed for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). The class, which has been developed as ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Loitering munitions

  Crossbow

  MBDA unveiled Crossbow, a ground-launched One Way Effector Heavy (OWE(H)) at DSEI 2025. Equipped to carry kinetic or non-kinetic payloads up to 300kg, the turbojet-powered OWE(H) ...

• Loitering munitions

  Q-SLAM-100

  Unveiled at DSEI 2025, the Q-SLAM-100 is a man-portable loitering munition. Manufactured by Arquimea, the system is designed for medium-range missions with 120 minutes of flight autonomy ...

• Military UAS - small

  AR3 EVO

  Unveiled at DSEI 2025, the AR3 EVO is a small fixed-wing UAV from Tekever. The system is highly modular and can be configured in a ...

• Land: battle management systems

  FACNAV

  Developed by Teleplan, FACNAV is a battle management system designed for use at the battlegroup level and below. The software suite is designed to interact ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Hamadori 6000

  The Hamadori 6000 is the largest member of the Hamadori family, which Hama manufactures. Equipped with a turboprop engine, this large 14-meter-class UAV is designed ...

• Loitering munitions

  Rotem Alpha

  The Rotem Alpha is a VTOL-capable loitering munition from Isreal Aerospace Indusiters (IAI). Drawing upon IAI's Rotem, the drone can be equipped with one of ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Sentinel

  First displayed at DSEI 2023, Sentinel is a tethered drone from Drone Evolution. Designed to support various applications, such as increased ISR, EW and communications, ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  Diamond

  Diamond is a digital intercom and radio combiner system for use on land and maritime platforms, including high speed patrol craft. Diamond has been designed ...

• Military UAS - small

  Blizzard

  At DSEI 2025, BAE Systems FalconWorks and Lockheed Martin Skunk Works announced a partnership to develop a range of autonomous UAVs. While specifics on the UAV’s range ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  STRIX

  The STRIX is a prototype tandem-wing UAV that BAE Systems Australia is developing in collaboration with Innovaero. It is slated to begin operational service in 2026 and can be ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  HDL-10000

  At DSEI 2023, Hyundai Heavy Industries unveiled the HDL-10000, a 145m Multi-Role Support Ship capable of providing logistic support during HADR and amphibious operations. The vessel has ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Hamadori 3000

  The Hamadori 3000 is the smallest member of the Hamadori family, which Hama manufactures.  Equipped with an EO/IR gimbal camera, it is designed for maritime Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Hamadori Catamaran

  The Hamadori Catamaran is a fixed-wing UAV manufactured by Hama. Equipped with SATCOM systems, the platform supports surface observation, underwater observation, and communication.

• Military UAS - MALE

  Proteus

  Proteus is a technology demonstrator that Leonardo is developing in collaboration with the UK MoD's Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S;) Future Capabilities Group and the ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  Diamond Wireless Intercom System

  The Diamond Wireless Intercom System is the wireless variant of Drumgrange’s Diamond digital intercom and radio combiner system and has been designed for use on ...