• Naval Warfare

  Second Belgian mine counter-measure ship launched

  3rd July 2024

  Twelve new Mine Countermeasures Vessels (MCMVs) are being built to replace the Tripartite-class MCMV. The programme is a joint Dutch-Belgian procurement and a contract was awarded to Belgium Naval Robotics (BNR) in 2019.

• Defence Notes

  How temporary funding could affect the US military’s critical acquisition programmes

  25th September 2024

  Operating under continuing resolutions would affect Patriot, Virginia-class, Columbia-class and B-21 programmes.

• Air Warfare

  Boeing details expansion and improvements for P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft

  17th July 2024

  The P-8 Poseidon multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft, based on the Boeing 737NG airliner, is a replacement for the US Navy's fleet of P-3 Orions. It is also being targeted at other users of ageing P-3 aircraft with several countries, including Australia and New Zealand, taking up the option.

• Defence Notes

  Brazil’s proposed $23.7 billion defence budget targets GDP-linked military funding

  24th September 2024

  Brazil’s 2025 budget proposals will see a 5.9% increase in defence spending, with funds allocated for key programmes including the procurement of helicopters, armoured vehicles and nuclear-powered submarines, despite looming fiscal challenges.

• Naval Warfare

  Oostende mine countermeasures vessel begins sea trials

  22nd July 2024

  The first vessel in the Belgian-Dutch rMCM mine-clearing fleet, the Oostende, has begun its sea trials before officially entering service in 2025.

• Naval Warfare

  German-Filippino defence collaboration agreement edges closer in South China Sea

  6th August 2024

  The countries have agreed to have a collaboration plan in place by the end of 2024.

• Naval Warfare

  Naval Warfare Review 2024: Business as usual overshadowed by geopolitics and budgets, but innovation promised solutions

  13th December 2024

  There was solid programme advancement around the world in 2024, but a combination of more threats, fleet unreadiness and a financial squeeze darkened naval horizons as the year advanced.

• Training

  Saab wins three-year extension to British Army live training contract

  9th April 2024

  Instrumented Live Training (ILT-D) is an appended precision laser based tactical engagement system for vehicles, armoured platforms, heavy weapon systems and anti-tank weapons used in force-on-force exercises as part of collective training.

• Land Warfare

  European MBT programmes make tracks and try to find a path forward

  8th July 2024

  European MBT programmes over the next decade or two could result in orders up to US$10 billion with orders occurring and plans for purchases predicted to refresh ageing fleets.

• Land Warfare

  MESHnet® Empowering Decision-Making at Every Level

  13th June 2024

  MESHnet is a modern suite of robust and secure networking solutions enabling fleet-wide communication and data exchange.

• Land Warfare

  German–Ukrainian vehicle support factory officially opens in Ukraine

  12th June 2024

  Ukrainian specialists were trained at Rheinmetall sites in Germany last year in the repair of combat vehicles, including industrial mechanics and mechatronics engineers.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Tekever unveils new swarm-controlling UAS

  24th April 2024

  Tekever has manufactured the AR3, AR4 and AR5 UAS with all systems sharing common electronics and software architecture, which has enabled the reuse of ground segment elements within the new ARX UAS.

• Training

  How the US Air Force plans to use artificial intelligence to train pilots

  26th June 2024

  AI can accelerate instruction for flying officer and improve their training in several ways.

• Naval Warfare

  Naval Warfare Preview 2025: Billion-dollar programmes will advance but unpredictable forces muddy the waters

  20th December 2024

  Large programmes around the world are likely to be immune to flux, but the impact of geopolitics could be unprecedented in 2025.

• Naval Warfare

  Final NFS submarine for Italian Navy’s U212 NFS programme to be built

  28th June 2024

  The €500 million submarine, the fourth and final of the U212 NFS programme, will be built by Fincantieri at its Muggiano shipyard as work on the third NFS unit was also marked by a steel-cutting ceremony.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  F-X III Phase II (F-35) [South Korea]

  Programme Background On 14 September 2014, South Korea signed an FMS contract under the first phase of F-X III programme to supply 40 F-35As for ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35B (1-12) [Singapore]

  Programme Background Singapore is renowned as a discerning and demanding customer, so its selection of the F-35 must be seen as a vote of confidence ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A Japan

  In 2019, Japan requested to be an official partner in the F-35 programme, but this request was rejected by the Pentagon. The F-35 Joint Strike ...

• Fighter - naval

  F-35C Carrier Variant

  The US Navy is planning to order 130 F-35Cs between FY2026 and FY2030 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated be ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35I Adir (F-35A) [Israel]

  The F-35I Adir is an F-35A Lightning II variant customised to meet the requirements of the Israel Defense Forces to replace the F-16 fleet in ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A Denmark

  Denmark joined the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program in 2002 during the System Development and Demonstration phase and has influenced technical elements of the ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  SW4 Puszczyk Replacement [Poland]

  Programme Background  In 2002, Poland order 47 SW4 training helicopters from Italian manufacturer Leonardo; as of Spring 2025, the Ministry of Defence is looking to ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A Japan Follow On

  The F-35 full-rate production is expected to be further delayed following an October 2020 US DoD announcement that postponed the simulation tests, originally planned for 2017 ...

• Fighter - naval

  F-35B STOVL - US Navy

  The JSF programme will develop and field a family of aircraft that meets the needs of the US DoD and US allies with the F-35A ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35B Japan

  F-35B was selected on 16 August 2019 for Japan's short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) multirole fighter aircraft requirement. Tokyo is planning  ‘partial refurbishment of ...

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

  Sistema RPAS Táctico de Altas Prestaciones (SiRTAP) [Spain]

  Background MoU In 2017, it was announced that Spain was jointly developing a MALE UAV with Colombia to meet the ISR requirement of both armed ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A Joint Strike Fighter - USAF

  According to the US FY2021 budget document, Turkey's removal from the JSF program and transition to the alternate supply chain sources may challenge to achieve ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  Bell 505 (South Korea - Army)

  Programme Background Requirement South Korea operates an ageing fleet of Bell UH-1s and MD 500s for training purposes. The country has already replaced a part of ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  Bell 505 (South Korea - Navy)

  Programme Background Requirement South Korea operates an ageing fleet of Bell UH-1s and MD 500s for training purposes. The country has already replaced a part of ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Future Combat Air System (FCAS/SCAF) [France]

  Programme Background The governments of France and Germany have launched the demonstrator phase for the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) with the issue of an ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Land: C2 simulators

  GESI

  The GESI (Gefechtssimulation System or combat simulation system) is a constructive simulation system designed to run complex and comprehensive joint and combined exercises at tactical ...

• Air combat Training Centers

  Training centres and networked simulation devices for collective training in a realistic operational context at various levels (squadron, distant, joint, coalition) – Rafale Simulation Center, ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  Distributed and Networked Mission Training

  Airbus D&S; networks training systems to enable joint and distributed mission training across local and national boundaries, generating realistic and needs-oriented scenarios. The solution uses ...

• Land: vehicle simulators

  Leopard 2E Simulators

  Indra was prime contractor for the Spanish Army Leopard 2E Tank Simulation Programme, which involved 23 devices across driving, turret and platoon simulators with networking ...

• Land: tactical engagement simulators

  Instrumented Ground Combat Training Systems

  Cubic supplies combat training systems for CTCs, homestations and forward-deployed environments. The systems are designed to support missions including force-on-force, urban operations, joint, combined arms ...

• Sea: tactical training

  UAE NTC

  In 2016, CAE was awarded a contract to design and deliver a comprehensive Naval Training Centre (NTC) to the UAE Navy. The UAE NTC will ...

• Land: C2 simulators

  JLCCTC

  The Joint Land Component Constructive Training Capability (JLCCTC) integrates seven command and battle staff training tools into a simulation-based system. JLCCTC will support US Army, ...

• Land: tactical engagement simulators

  ECOSim - Tactics

  The ECOSim (Enhanced Company Operations Simulation) is a company-level training simulation device that teaches leaders how best to deploy troops, UAVs, convoys and other assets. ...

• Land: battle management systems

  KOCATEPE (TACCIS)

  Aselsan KOCATEPE is a battle management system which provides a software-based solution for headquarters staff at the brigade level and above. According to news sources, it ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  ANTares Joint and Combined Tactical Training

  Rheinmetall’s Advanced Network Trainer (ANTares) is designed to support the military needs for joint and combined training with networked and interoperable land-, air- and sea-based ...

• Major networking projects

  JCSS

  The Joint Communication Simulation System (JCSS) provides communications planners and system analysts with the capability to validate support plans, analyse existing and proposed network architectures ...

• Subsystems: software

  OneSAF

  The One Semi-Automated Force (OneSAF) is an open-source, common constructive simulation platform used by the US Army, joint and international communities as well as non-military ...

• Land: C2 simulators

  Joint Warfare Training Center

  This system provides multi-level simulation of joint forces operations (Air Force, Army and Navy) for training of tactical proficiency of divisions', brigades' and battalions' commanding ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  Rafale Simulator

  Thales, Sogitec and Dassault Aviation have together developed two pilot training centres to support the training of Rafale fighter pilots. The Saint-Dizier Rafale simulation centre ...

• Subsystems: software

  Simulation

  From physics-based dynamics and intelligent entity behaviours to tactical and operational missions, Presagis simulation software tools address the rigorous challenges of M&S; applications. Its simulation ...