• Defence Notes

  Taiwan’s MND releases report on military capability

  2nd April 2018

  Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) released the English-language version of its National Defense Report. As the 14th periodical report, it covers May 2016 to …

• Land Warfare

  Japan creates Ground Component Command

  27th March 2018

  The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) established a new Ground Component Command on 27 March to unify its five existing armies: the Northern, Northeastern, Eastern, …

• Digital Battlespace

  Thales positions to supply Type 31e combat system

  6th April 2018

  Thales is doubling down on efforts to potentially supply the Royal Navy with its Tacticos combat management system (CMS) for the next-generation Type 31e programme, …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Insight: Unmanned uprising for the RAF

  28th March 2018

  As senior officials in the UK Royal Air Force (RAF) suggest that the balance between manned and unmanned platforms is shifting to the latter, a …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  UK extends unmanned MCM support to avoid capability gap

  22nd March 2018

  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) will extend a support contract for its current mine countermeasure (MCM) UUVs, avoiding a potential capability gap as it …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Poland postpones procurement of new UGVs

  23rd March 2018

  The Polish Armament Inspectorate has announced its decision to cancel the tender for a series of mobile UGVs for the army due to the fact …

• Defence Helicopter

  DefExpo 2018: India approves Ka-226T configuration

  11th April 2018

  On the opening day of the DefExpo exhibition in Chennai, India approved the technical configuration of the 200 Kamov Ka-226T helicopters that it will buy …

• Land Warfare

  MBDA eyes key air defence programmes

  28th March 2018

  Missile manufacturer MBDA is positioning itself for a number of air defence modernisation programmes that are on the horizon including in Spain, Switzerland, Turkey and …

• Military Logistics

  EU tackles tank transport troubles in face of Russia threat

  28th March 2018

  The EU will on 28 March present detailed plans to make it easier to move troops and equipment around the bloc as Europe seeks to …

• Defence Helicopter

  Leonardo to manufacture UK Apache subsystem

  20th March 2018

  Following an electronic warfare systems and counter measures contract award, issued by the European Union’s electronic tenders service, Leonardo is to manufacture defensive aid systems …

• Digital Battlespace

  Harris receives contract mod for EW jammers

  27th March 2018

  Harris Corporation has received a contract modification to supply the next production lot of electronic jammers to protect the US Navy and Australian F/A-18 Hornet …

• Naval Warfare

  Ocean waves farewell to UK Royal Navy service

  27th March 2018

  The UK Royal Navy’s former helicopter carrier HMS Ocean was decommissioned in a ceremony at Devonport naval base on 27 March, bringing an end to 20 …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Continued investment proves less risky for Watchkeeper

  26th March 2018

  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) remains committed to the troubled Watchkeeper project despite missing its full operating capability (FOC) one milestone in November 2017. It …

• Naval Warfare

  Venari-85 platform being examined by variety of potential users

  22nd March 2018

  British naval vessel designer BMT is in discussions with a number of European and non-European countries looking at future mine countermeasure (MCM) procurements, utilising its …

• Military Logistics

  KBR receives CWSS contract from UK MoD

  16th March 2018

  KBR has received a contract from the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to design, manufacture, supply and store a Combat Water Supply System (CWSS), the …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Transport

  Medium Transport Aircraft (DROP) [Poland​]

  Programme Background Requirement Poland acquired the C-130E Hercules over a decade ago under the US FMS programme. Deliveries started in 2009 and ran through to ...

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

  Action Plan of the Georgian Defence Force (FlyEye) [Georgia]

  Programme Background Action Plan of the Georgian Defence Forces 2020-30 In July 2021, the Georgian Minister of Defence, Juansher Burchuladze, outlined the country's military modernisation plan. ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Gryf [Poland]

  Programme Background Requirements The Polish MoD identified the need for several ingeniously produced UAVs to provide ISTAR and strike capabilities for its armed forces at the ...

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

  FlyEye (Future Contracts) [Poland]

  Programme Background Previous Contracts Poland has acquired FlyEye over many years. In December 2018, WB Group announced receiving an initial PLN10.3 million ($2.852 million) contract to supply ...

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

  Gladius [Poland]

  Programme Background Contract Signing On 6 May 2022, the Minister of National Defense, Mariusz Błaszczak, the president of the WB GROUP, Piotr Wojciechowski and the head ...

• Tanks

  Wilk

  Programme Background The Wilk programme was included in the Polish MoDs Technical Modernisation Plan of the Polish Armed Forces for 2021-2035. It was primarily aimed ...

• Frigates

  Miecznik (Swordfish) Programme (1-3) [Poland]

  Programme Background Polish Armament Group is a consortium that was tasked with the development of the Miecnik class coastal defence vessels for the Polish Navy. ...

• Tanks

  K2 [Poland - Phase I]

  Programme Background Requirement Poland's K2 purchase is the successor of the Wilk programme which aimed to replace the country's Soviet-era T-72 and PT-91 MBTs with a ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Bayraktar TB2 [Poland]

  Programme Background Requirement Under the Gryf programme, the Polish MoD identified the need for an indigenously produced MALE UAV to provide ISTAR and strike capabilities at ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  RQ-21A Blackjack - Additional Units (Poland)

  Programme Background Known First Procurement As covered by another entry (see 'RQ-21 Blackjack (Poland)' programme), the Polish government ordered a single RQ-21A system via the ...

• Tanks

  M1A1 Abrams [Poland]

  Programme Background Requirement In 2022 Poland donated over 240 units of its T-72 MBTs to Ukraine, creating the need for a stopgap solution before the ...

• Tanks

  K2 [Poland] - Phase II

  Programme Background Requirement Poland's K2 purchase is the successor of the Wilk programme which aimed to replace the country's Soviet-era T-72 and PT-91 MBTs with a ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4, Mine-protected vehicles

  Cougar 4x4 (Poland)

  Programme Background Asides from 45 ex-US Oshkosh M1240A1 MRAP-All Terrain Vehicles (MATVs) operated by Polish Special Forces units, the Polish Armed Forces do not operate ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Serwal Wheeled Armoured Vehicle

  Programme Background The existence of the Serwal programme was first revealed in May 2020, when the Secretary of State at the Polish MoD informed the ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  NBPWP Borsuk (Poland)

  Programme Background One of the highest priority equipment procurement programmes for the Polish MoD is the procurement of a new, NATO-standard platform to replace around ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  PGZ-19R

  The PGZ-19R is a low--altitude, short-range tactical fixed-wing UAV. Based on the E-310 demonstrator, the platform has been designed to carry ISR sensors, search and rescue and ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  AW149

  The AgustaWestland 'AW149' is an 8t-class multirole battlefield helicopter developed by AgustaWestland (now Leonardo) launched in 2006, making its maiden voyage in 2009. For combat ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  FA-50

  Based on the T/TA-50 trainer/light attack aircraft, the FA-50 is further developed and upgraded with a tactical data link, precision-guided munitions, and a self-protection subsystem. ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Krab

  Poland selected a modified version of the BAE Systems AS90M Braveheart 155mm/52cal turret to meet its requirement for a new SPH. Poland’s HSW is prime ...

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

  BSP-U

  The BSP-U, or Gladius/Gladius 2, is a Polish-made UAV. Defence 24 confirmed that the platform is not a loitering munition, suggesting that it could be a UCAV or a striking ...

• ISR/special mission, Maritime patrol

  A320neo M3A

  Currently under development by Airbus, the A320 M3A is the Maritime Patrol version of the civilian A320neo aircraft. The aircraft can be fitted with a wide ...

• Ship-launched torpedoes, Submarine-launched torpedoes

  Mk-48 ADCAP

  The Mk-48 ADCAP (Advanced Capability) is the improved version of the Mk-48 family. Development started with the Mk-48 Mod 5 and continues to the present ...

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

  R&S M3SR Series4400

  Rohde & Schwarz M3SR Series4400 is a VHF/UHF radio system designed for stationary and shipborne applications. It offers several proprietary frequency-hopping waveforms as well as data link ...

• EO/IR systems

  LRF Mod 4EC/6EC

  The Mod 4EC and Mod 6EC were designed specifically for remotely operated small platforms. The modules can be attached to Mini-Typhoon, CLAWS and other systems ...

• Land: RWS

  ZSSW-30

  The ZSSW-30 is an unmanned turret developed by a consortium of Huta Stalowa Wola (HSW) and WB Electronics. Armed with a 30mm cannon, 7.62mm coaxial machine ...

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

  FlyEye

  WB Group manufactures the FlyEye, a hand-launched mini-UAS designed to provide reconnaissance capabilities.  With a modular configuration and the ability to host more than one payload, ...

• ISR/special mission, Maritime patrol

  C-27J Next Generation MPA

  Developed by Leonardo, the C-27J MPA is the Maritime Patrol version of the C-27J NG transport aircraft. While retaining the key characteristics of the transport ...

• Tanks

  Challenger 2

  The 120mm-armed Challenger 2 MBT was introduced into British Army service in 1994 as a replacement for the Challenger 1, which was successfully employed in ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  R35010

  The Radmor R35010 personal role radio is a handheld, lightweight radio intended to operate in a small radio network between combat team members.  The R35010 ...

• Commercial Air Services

  Draken International, based at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in Lakeland, Florida, maintains what is claimed to be the largest fleet of privately owned tactical aircraft in ...