• Defence Notes

  How European countries plan to overcome Ukraine war supply chain issues

  13th December 2022

  To refill stockpiles and ensure the readiness of their armies, European Defence Agency (EDA) member states are seeking ways to overcome supply chain obstacles and strengthen industrial capacity.

• Defence Notes

  Europe needs better missile defence, says NATO transformation chief

  31st October 2022

  NATO’s Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe for Transformation admits the alliance has neglected peer-on-peer electronic warfare and emphasises the need for European investment in missile defence to counter future Russian threats.

• Land Warfare

  US Bradley Fighting Vehicles are on the way to Ukraine

  12th January 2023

  M2A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles will soon be available at Grafenwoehr in Germany to train Ukrainian troops, according to the Pentagon.

• Land Warfare

  Ukraine left waiting for German consent to Leopard tank deliveries

  20th January 2023

  The newly appointed German Minister of Defence was unable to provide details on whether the country would approve the donation of Polish Leopard 2A4s to Kyiv or when this decision would be taken.

• Defence Notes

  Why a true joint approach is vital for electronic warfare

  17th November 2022

  Speakers at last month's AOC convention highlighted the many barriers that still prevent full interoperability on electromagnetic spectrum operations, both within the US DoD and internationally.

• Air Warfare

  Elbit to supply self-protection systems for Asia-Pacific helicopter fleets

  17th November 2022

  Elbit will supply passive and active IR countermeasures for installation on attack and utility helicopters operated by an undisclosed customer in Asia-Pacific.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Canada contracts Kraken for new minehunting system

  14th December 2022

  The new contract stems from the Canadian Navy's force development ambitions to evolve its mine warfare capability and procure modularised, portable and deployable systems.

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2022: MVRsimulation joint fires trainer makes accreditation progress

  1st December 2022

  MVRsimulation's mixed reality (MR) system is designed to provide a quick-deployment capability for joint terminal attack controllers (JTACs) and forward observers.

• Training

  NATO concludes air-to-air refuelling exercise in Canary Islands

  28th October 2022

  The European Air Refuelling Training exercise is an important event for the NATO air-to-air refuelling community, and enhances multinational operations.

• Land Warfare

  Switzerland gains US approval for Patriot air defence missile buy

  18th November 2022

  Switzerland will acquire up to 72 Patriot missiles under a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) transaction.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Camcopter S-100 relays acoustic buoy surveillance in NATO exercise

  25th October 2022

  This year marked the Thales-Schiebel partnership's first participation in NATO's REPMUS exercise.

• Land Warfare

  NATO members and Finland to embark on European Sky Shield Initiative

  14th October 2022

  The European Sky Shield Initiative would allow all participating nations to jointly develop an air and missile defence system using interoperable solutions.

• Defence Notes

  How new Portuguese defence doctrine will impact future procurement

  27th November 2022

  The Portuguese MoD is working on updated versions of its National Defence Strategic Concept and Military Programming Law. The new documents will define the country’s priorities and shape future acquisition and modernisation programmes.

• Air Warfare

  GCAP programme 'well positioned' to develop 6th-generation fighter by 2035

  12th January 2023

  The Global Combat Air Programme partners are confident a sixth-generation combat jet will fly by the middle of the 2030s. Other nations may be able to join the partnership in the future but the 'core club' window is closing soon.

• Land Warfare

  Rheinmetall Lynx aims for more customers

  8th December 2022

  With production now under way for launch customer Hungary, Rheinmetall is targeting a number of new market opportunities for its Lynx infantry fighting vehicle, including requirements in Greece and Italy.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  BMD-4M

  Programme Background Since 2017, 11 battalion sets of the BMD-4M have been delivered to units of the VDV in addition to 27 located at the ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  BTR-MDM Rakushka

  Programme Background Since 2016, 11 battalion sets of BTR-MDMs are known to have been delivered to units of the VDV in addition to 12 platforms ...

• Tanks

  2S25 Sprut-SDM1

  Programme Background The Sprut-SDM1 is an upgraded version of the Sprut-SD, a mere 30 of which were produced for the VDV between 2006 and 2010 ...

• Destroyers

  Maya Class (27DDG) (1-2) [Japan]

  Programme Background The 27DD Maya class destroyers were previously known as the Improved Atago class because they are an addition to the existing two Atago-class destroyers that have entered service. ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) - (Greece)

  Programme Background EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) was announced in early 2022 and the project contract was awarded ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) - (Italy)

  Programme Background EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) was announced in early 2022 and the project contract was awarded ...

• ISR/special mission

  EC-37B Compass Call [USAF]

  Programme Background Requirement The retirement of the EF-111A in 1990 left the USAF largely out of the operational and tactical level radar jamming business. Lockheed Martin ...

• 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 ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Major networking projects

  Ballistic Missile Defence

  In early 2010, NATO acquired the first phase of an initial theatre ballistic missile defence capability to protect alliance forces. 

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  BMD-2

  Between 1,000 and 2,000 BMD-2 (Boevaya Mashina Desantnaya - Airborne Combat Vehicle) amphibious IFVs were produced for the Soviet Airborne Forces (VDV) by the Volgograd ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  BMD-4M

  The BMD-4M is based on the BMD-4, which has been in the Russian Army's airborne forces (VDV) service since 2004. It was developed to provide an ...

• Deployable/static missile systems

  Aegis Ashore

  Aegis Ashore is the first operational land-based version of the Aegis Combat System originally developed by Lockheed Martin for the US Navy's Ballistic Missile Defence ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  BMD-1

  The Volgograd Tractor Plant (now known as the Volgograd Machine-Building Company) developed the BMD-1 amphibious IFV specifically to meet the requirements of the Soviet Union's ...

• Land: battle management systems

  BMD-Flex

  BMD-Flex is a modular C2 software system for integrated air and missile defence. Built on T-Core, BMD-Flex’s features and functions can be tailored, ranging from ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  Smart-L MM/N

  The Thales Smart-L MM/N is an AESA D-band next-generation Long Range Multi-Mission Radar for Air and Space Surveillance and Ballistic Missile Detection. It is based ...

• Land: manned turrets

  Bereg

  KBP developed the Bereg one-person turret (referred to as a ‘combat module’ in Russia) to provide an upgrade option for the Russian-designed BMD-series airborne IFV ...

• Land: manned turrets

  Bakhcha

  The Bakhcha is the latest version of the two-man turret originally developed for the BMP-3 tracked IFV, which entered Soviet Army service in 1987.  It ...

• Cannons

  2A70

  The 2A70 is a 100mm cannon that has been designed to equip infantry fighting vehicles, including the BMP-3, BMP-3F and the BMD-4M.

• 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 ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  ZBD-03/VN10

  The ZBD-03 (initially referred to as the ZLC2000) is an air-droppable tracked infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) designed to support airborne assault operations. Although it shares many ...