• Air Warfare

  Kongsberg to invest $110 million to increase production capacities in the US

  19th September 2024

  Expected contracts from the US Armed Forces will see the company build a new facility in Virginia, as well as improving and expanding its manufacturing capabilities in Pennsylvania.

• Defence Helicopter

  Germany to send WS-61 Westland Sea King helicopters to Ukraine

  26th January 2024

  Germany has committed to sending Ukraine six of its 21 retiring WS-61 Westland Sea King multirole, amphibious helicopters.

• Land Warfare

  New bridges ordered for British Army

  26th January 2024

  The UK MoD has awarded a contract to provide replacements for the Royal Engineers' General Support Bridge systems as part of project Tyro.

• Naval Warfare

  US forces intercept second boat carrying Iranian weapon supplies for Houthi rebels

  15th February 2024

  The operation in the Arabian Sea involved the US Coast Guard Sentinel-class fast-response cutter USCGC Clarence Sutphin Jr assigned to US Naval Forces Central Command.

• Naval Warfare

  Aurora Engineering wins Royal Navy support contract

  6th February 2024

  A partnership between QinetiQ, BMT and AtkinsRéalis has been selected to ensure that the Royal Navy and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary receive support and service during operations.

• Naval Warfare

  Australia expands western shipbuilding precinct and sidelines Luerssen

  13th November 2024

  Australia’s investment in naval infrastructure will aim to support its expanding fleet and will focus on the Henderson naval shipbuilding precinct, but challenges remain as Luerssen exits the market due to delays in the Arafura-class project.

• Land Warfare

  Rheinmetall to supply further artillery ammunition to Ukraine via NATO country

  4th December 2023

  The order for tens-of-thousands of shells will be delivered in 2025 and Rheinmetall will also fulfil earlier orders of rounds for Ukraine in 2024.

• Defence Notes

  US Senate plans to booster FY2025 acquisitions with an extra $10 billion despite budget cuts to major programmes

  7th August 2024

  While lawmakers intend to provide additional resources for procurement for all US branches, they have reduced the budget for main programmes such as F-35, MQ-25, PIM and AMPV.

• Digital Battlespace

  NATO adopts high-data-rate waveform for tactical communications

  23rd November 2023

  NATO member countries can now access to the ESSOR HDR Base Waveform which can offer secure and high-speed tactical communications.

• Training

  US, Japan, Australia and the Philippines conduct major military exercise in South China Sea

  8th April 2024

  The countries conducted a Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) within the Philippine’s Exclusive Economic Zone on 7 April 2024.

• Air Warfare

  Boeing’s Wedgetail AEW&C aircraft to replace NATO’s AWACS by 2031

  15th November 2023

  Australia, South Korea, Turkey, the UK and the US already operate or have ordered Boeing 737 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft.

• Land Warfare

  Malaysian defence update: Key programmes under spotlight at DSA 2024

  3rd May 2024

  The Defence Services Asia (DSA) exhibition in Kuala Lumpur from 6–9 March will feature updates on Malaysia’s defence programmes, including the signing of Batch 2 Littoral Mission Ships and procurement plans for medium lift helicopters.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  US Replicator drone programme enters second year facing uncertainties and challenges

  20th August 2024

  To date, it is unclear to what extent the effort advanced. In order to progress, it also needs to address issues related to budget, doctrine and integration.

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy’s Navigation Plan 2024 to focus on rapid integration of uncrewed capabilities

  20th September 2024

  The service’s Navigation Plan 2024 and “Project 33” targets outlined robotic and autonomous systems as core focus areas up until 2027.

• Naval Warfare

  Chess Dynamics showcases counter-sUAV technology at Euronaval

  9th November 2024

  Chess Dynamics envisions more automony, modularity and leanness in counter-sUAV systems as threats and solutions mature.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  MiG-35 (Russia)

  The MiG-35 is a new-generation derivative of the twin-engine MiG-29 (NATO code-name ‘Fulcrum’) featuring multi-role combat capabilities, significantly reworked airframe and a vastly expanded arsenal ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Multirole Underwater Seabed Surveillance Ship (MU3S) [Italy]

  In June 2024, during a presentation provided at the NATO Maritime Security Centre of Excellence (MARSEC COE), the Italian Navy detailed the new capabilities it ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Multirole Underwater Seabed Surveillance Ship (MU3S) [Italy]

  In June 2024, during a presentation provided at the NATO Maritime Security Centre of Excellence (MARSEC COE), the Italian Navy detailed the new capabilities it ...

• AEW&C

  Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (1-6) [NATO]

  Programme Background NATO’s E-3A AWACS fleet is set to retire in 2035, after 50 years of service. To plan for the required follow-on capability, NATO's ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Multirole Underwater Seabed Surveillance Ship (MU3S) [Italy]

  Programme Background Requirements According to the presentation provided by the Italian Navy, the MultiroleUnderwater Seabed Surveillance Ship (MU3S) will:operate a wide range of uncrewed systems, ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (1-6) [NATO]

  NATO is estimated to procure up to 18 AEW aircraft under the Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (AFSC) programme to replace the current E-3 Sentry fleet when ...

• Data links

  Data links | Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (1-6) [NATO]

  NATO is estimated to procure up to 18 AEW aircraft under the Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (AFSC) programme to replace the current E-3 Sentry fleet when ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (1-6) [NATO]

  NATO is estimated to procure up to 18 AEW aircraft under the Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (AFSC) programme to replace the current E-3 Sentry fleet when ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (1-6) [NATO]

  NATO is estimated to procure up to 18 AEW aircraft under the Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (AFSC) programme to replace the current E-3 Sentry fleet when ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  NRE+ (Navio Reabastecedor de Esquadra e Logístico) [Portugal]

  Programme Background Requirements Portugal urges to replace NRP Bérrio, a fleet support tanker which was decommissioned in 2020. Since Bérrio was decommissioned, the Portuguese Navy has ...

• Military UAS - small

  Puma 2 AE (Germany)

  Programme Background The Germany navy had an urgent requirement for three UAS required for reconnaissance and identification in maritime operations. A platform was required that ...

• Corvettes

  Light Corvettes Procurement [UAE]

  Programme Background Requirements The current first line of vessels of the UAE Navy includes two Gowind 2500 corvettes (one to be delivered by 2025), six ...

• Destroyers

  DDX Programme [Italy]

  Programme Background Requirements Destroyers are fundamental to Italy's blue water fleet and will be required to be capable of projecting capability at sea from the ...

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

  Small VTOL UAV (Denmark)

  Programme Background 2020 Tender In January 2018, Denmark's three main political parties signed the Danish Defence Agreement, a cross-party defence white paper covering the period ...

• Patrol boats

  Multipurpose Modular Patrol Vessels (MMPV) [Bulgaria]

  Programme Background Timeline Two Multipurpose Modular Patrol Vessels (MMPV) are being procured for the Bulgarian Navy. The project began as far back as 2004 when ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Light machine guns

  LSAT LMG

  Textron Systems Unmanned Systems is developing and maturing a Lightweight Small Arms Technologies (LSAT) family of weapons and ammunition with the US Army that fires ...

• Assault rifles/carbines/shotguns

  6.5mm CT Carbine

  The 6.5mm Cased Telescoped (CT) Carbine is a closed-bolt, forward-feed, gas piston-operated weapon being developed as part of the US Army's Lightweight Small Arms Technology ...

• Anti-ship missiles

  3M-54 Kalibr

  The 3M-54 Kalibr, or Klub, (NATO reporting name: SS-N-27 'Sizzler') is a Russian surface ship and submarine-launched anti-ship and land-attack cruise missile.

• Naval: COMINT and ELINT systems

  Flat Track

  The Flat Track (NATO reporting name) is a barrage and deception radar jamming system that is able to counter anti-ship missiles.

• Land: Radio and SATCOM, Naval: Radio and SATCOM

  R&S M3SR Series4100

  Rohde & Schwarz M3SR Series4100 is a family of software-defined HF radios designed for stationary and shipborne communications. Offered in multiple configurations, they offer high-data-rate BLOS ...

• Air-to-surface missiles, Anti-ship missiles

  Kh-31

  The Kh-31 (NATO reporting name AS-17 Krypton) is a Russian ASM that is known for its anti-radiation (Kh-31P) and anti-ship (Kh-31A) versions. 

• Major networking projects

  NATO SATCOM

  Leonardo has been awarded a turnkey contract to rationalise and upgrade NATO’s SATCOM systems and associated infrastructure. The company will design, build, test, commission and ...

• Major networking projects

  NATO DCIS

  Airbus is delivering the NATO Deployable Communication and Information System (DCIS). The project represents a major upgrade in the capability of NATO Response Forces (NRF) ...

• Land: RWS

  Qimek NATO

  Rheinmetall's RWS family includes the Qimek single-weapon RWS and the Nanuk dual-weapon RWS. The Qimek NATO combines full stabilisation, long-range day/night all-weather sights and a ...

• Land: RWS

  Nanuk NATO

  Rheinmetall's RWS family includes the Qimek single-weapon RWS and the Nanuk dual-weapon RWS, which was introduced in 2008. The Nanuk NATO combines full stabilisation, long-range ...

• Anti-ship missiles

  P-800 Oniks

  The P-800 Oniks, known in exports as the Yakhont, is a Soviet supersonic anti-ship cruise missile and is a ramjet version of the P-80 Zubr. ...

• Anti-ship missiles

  Kh-35

  The Zvezda ('Star') Kh-35 is a long-range, radar-guided anti-ship missile in the same class as the Exocet. The jet-launched version of the subsonic, cruise, anti-ship ...

• Corvettes

  Hainan Class (Type 037)

  The Hainan class (Type 037) class is a range of corvette-sized vessels, mostly in service with the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy, which cover a ...

• Data links

  Link 14

  Broadcast HF teletype link for maritime units designed to transfer surveillance information from ships with a tactical data processing capability to non-tactical data processing ships. ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Poseidón - Buques de Acción Marítima de Intervención Subacuática (BAM-IS)

  The Buques de Acción Marítima de Intervención Subacuática (BAM-IS), Poseidon (A-21), is a submarine rescue vessel being built by Navatia. The ship will enter service ...