• Land Warfare

  What a Trump victory could mean for the defence industry

  6th November 2024

  Trump claimed that the US wanted “a strong and powerful military” in his victory speech.

• Naval Warfare

  Japan introduces new landing craft classes to transport army equipment

  12th November 2024

  Japan’s new Nihonbare-class landing craft has highlighted Tokyo’s strategic moves to secure its archipelagic regions. Their introduction could be of interest to Australia as it develops its own amphibious capabilities.

• Land Warfare

  Hero-120 loitering munitions to be made in US

  27th March 2024

  Hero-120, a loitering munition system fitted with a 4.5kg warhead, has been designed to carry out strikes against mid-range targets. In June 2021, the US Marine Corps announced the Hero-120 had been selected for its Organic Precision Fire Mounted (OPF-M) programme.

• Training

  General Atomics adds new capabilities to Predator trainer

  22nd March 2024

  The new Predator Mission Trainer upgrade was said to enhance mission realism with improved visual graphics and offer instructors streamlined control for a more efficient and student-focused learning experience.

• Naval Warfare

  First Heritage-class cutter for US Coast Guard launched

  31st October 2023

  The US Coast Guard (USCG) has placed contracts for four Heritage-class offshore patrol cutters (OPCs), with plans in place to order as many as nine, as part of an effort to replace the service’s Famous Cutter and Reliance classes.

• Naval Warfare

  Birdon selected for new Australian medium littoral craft with plans for the heavy element to follow

  23rd November 2023

  The Royal Australian Navy is developing a new amphibious capability that will allow it to forward position Australian Army units from shore-to-shore or ship-to-shore at long distances. This will enhance the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF’s) rapid deployment capability and ability to operate in a contested environment.

• Training

  AI innovation set to revolutionise military training landscape

  16th October 2024

  Artificial intelligence offers unprecedented potential to revolutionise military training, enabling agile and decisive forces.

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy facing tough challenges in uncrewed vessel programmes

  5th January 2024

  The US Navy has major plans for uncrewed vessels, both surface and underwater, but faces programme challenges according to a review of information by the US Congressional Research Service (CRS).

• Naval Warfare

  Is Australia’s plan for the surface fleet viable?

  21st February 2024

  Australia’s long-awaited Enhanced Lethality Surface Combatant Fleet review has recommended significant changes to the future make-up of the country’s surface fleet. It has received sharp criticism from some experts who claim the recommendations have not gone far enough, while others have described it as an attempt to run before being able to walk.

• Air Warfare

  Poland buys air and surface radar systems for $1.2 billion

  8th February 2024

  Poland has remained steadfast in its commitment to bolstering its defence capabilities as it secured a freshly approved Airspace and Surface Radar Reconnaissance deal.

• Naval Warfare

  TAGOS-25 surveillance ship design advances

  11th August 2023

  The design of seven new TAGOS-25 ocean surveillance ships for the USN's Military Sealift Command (MSC) is being developed by shipbuilder Austal USA.

• Naval Warfare

  Australia continues to deliver Guardian patrol boats, and it buys sea mines

  13th October 2023

  A total of 17 Guardian-class patrol boats have now been commissioned, while Australia boosts defensive deterrence by renewing a sea mine capability.

• Air Warfare

  Slovenia receives first Leonardo C-27J transport aircraft

  21st December 2023

  Delivery of Slovenia’s first Leonardo C-27J transport aircraft has occurred 20 months after it was ordered and three months after the country ordered a second.

• Land Warfare

  Preparations underway for Saudi–US Red Sands exercise

  10th January 2024

  Last year’s Rad Sands Live Fire (RSLF) included a demonstration of C-UAS capability and the second of this year’s events in October/November will be expected to include similar activity and companies from earlier events such as MARSS.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Saildrone to produce USVs in Australia from 2024

  13th November 2023

  The use of long-duration Uncrewed Surface Vehicles for maritime surveillance and monitoring has become part of the fleet inventory as navies try to reduce the level of effort required to gather intelligence on areas of interest.

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 ...