• Land Warfare

  ‘A true force multiplier’ – where AI can make the most impact in defence

  3rd October 2024

  In Conversation... ST Engineering’s Ravinder Singh talks to Shephard's Gerrard Cowan about how AI can enhance human performance, the best ways to build trust in the technology among defence customers, and the areas where AI can transform military operations

• Air Warfare

  US approves $2 billion Black Hawk sale for Greece

  19th December 2023

  The proposed sale of UH-60M Black Haws will replace Greece’s ageing multi-role helicopter fleet with a more reliable platform.

• Naval Warfare

  Austal USA awarded $867 million for three hospital ships

  22nd December 2023

  The US Navy’s new Expeditionary Medical Ships (EMS) will be designated Bethesda Class EMS and first of class will be called USNS Bethesda.

• Land Warfare

  US Army to power its ground fleet with alternative fuels

  28th December 2023

  The service has been researching hybrid electric systems, fuel efficiency, operational power generation and battery storage, as well as the use of hydrogen and synthetic power sources.

• Naval Warfare

  Portugal contracts Damen for multi-purpose vessel designed for integrated uncrewed air and sea systems

  27th November 2023

  The new ship’s primary roles will be search and rescue, emergency relief and oceanic research but will also be used for naval support operations and maritime safety.

• Naval Warfare

  DSEI 2023: UK company to provide submarine rescue system to Indonesia in $100 million deal

  12th September 2023

  UK company Submarine Manufacturing and Products (SMP) has secured a second contract for its submarine rescue system (SRS), a deal worth $100 million signed with Indonesia, which will be integrated onboard a host vessel with support from engineering consultancy Houlder and local company BTI Defence.

• Land Warfare

  NATO tests robotic capabilities at multi-domain operations trials

  2nd November 2023

  The 2023 Next-Generation Communication Networks Technology event featured innovative technologies transforming the battlefield, including drones, ground-robotic systems and a robot dog.

• Air Warfare

  Greece favours Leonardo AW139 over Black Hawk and H175 as Super Puma replacement

  12th December 2023

  Greece’s air force has said it has been leaning towards the Leonardo AW139 multirole military helicopter as the Super Puma replacement, pending official approval, marking a potential shift in its search and rescue capabilities.

• Air Warfare

  Lithuania orders three Airbus H145 helicopters for various roles

  4th December 2023

  Lithuania has secured a deal with Airbus Helicopters for three H145M multi-mission aircraft for special forces operations and other roles, as part of the country's attempt to strengthen its defence capabilities.

• Training

  Team Fisher achieves final milestone in Royal Navy training contract

  3rd October 2023

  Team Fisher, the Capita-led consortium overseeing the Royal Navy’s data and technology-focused training transformation programme Selborne, has completed the final milestone outlined in its original contract to expedite frontline personnel training.

• Air Warfare

  Embraer C-390 triumphs in South Korea's transport aircraft competition

  5th December 2023

  Embraer's C-390 Millennium has secured a contract with South Korea, outperforming industry rivals such as Lockheed Martin and Airbus, marking a pivotal moment as the nation is set to become the first C-390 customer in Asia.

• 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.

• Air Warfare

  Ireland receives second C295 MPA

  18th October 2023

  Ireland now has two Airbus Defence and Space C295 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) which have replaced two CN235-100 MPAs purchased for the Irish Air Corps in 1994.

• Air Warfare

  Ireland receives second C295 MPA

  18th October 2023

  Ireland now has two Airbus Defence and Space C295 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) which have replaced two CN235-100 MPAs purchased for the Irish Air Corps in 1994.

• Air Warfare

  UK Protector surveillance UAV begins trials

  24th October 2023

  A new uncrewed Royal Air Force aircraft, capable of global surveillance operations, will begin trials in the UK this week.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Submarines: conventional, attack

  Type 206/209 Replacement (PLOTEOS) [Colombia]

  Programme Background Requirements The 2042 "Plan de Desarrollo Naval" (Naval Development Plan) outlines the intention to procure four new SSKs for the Colombian Navy. In ...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Military helicopters - multirole

  AW149

  The AW149s are being used for utility, search and rescue, emergency medical service and troop transport tasks.

• Military helicopters - maritime

  NH90 NFH-Germany - Awarded

  NH90 Sea Lions will take on a wide range of roles including search and rescue (SAR), maritime reconnaissance, special forces as well as personnel and ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  H-145M-Luxembourg

  With a MTOW of 3.7t, the H145M can be used for a wide range of tasks, including troop and passenger transport, surveillance, air rescue, reconnaissance ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  MH-60R Seahawk (Saudi Arabia)

  The sale is aimed at improving Saudi Arabia’s capability to meet current and future threats from enemy weapon systems, provide the capability to identify, engage ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  AW119 Koala-Portugal

  The order includes options for a further two aircraft. The helicopters will be deployed in a range of missions, including training, MEDEVAC, troop transport and ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  Spain HT-29 Caiman (NH90 TTH) - Air Force Second Batch

  The HT-29 Caiman will replace AS332 Super Puma fleet in service with the Spanish Air Force. The Spanish version of the NH90 TTHs can perform ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  Spain HT-29 Caiman (NH90 TTH) - Air Force First Batch

  The HT-29 Caiman will replace AS332 Super Puma fleet in service with the Spanish Air Force. The Spanish version of the NH90 TTHs can perform ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Medium Size Helicopters

  Despite tough economic conditions currently in Latin America, and a subsequent slowdown in military modernization, helicopter acquisition is thought to be a high priority for ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A400M-Spain

  In December 2018, Spain Air Force took delivery of its first A400M. The aircraft will be operated by the Air Transport Wing (ATW) 31 of the ...

• AEW&C

  E-2D - USA

  The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye (AHE) is an all-weather, twin engine, carrier-based, Airborne Command, Control and Surveillance aircraft designed to extend task force defense perimeters. The ...

• OPVs

  OPVs Procurement (Ukraine)

  Programme Background OMT presented the MPV80 design in September 2021 at the DSEI event in London. The 80m vessel was showcased in three configurations: Offshore ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Light machine guns

  K3/K3 Para

  The K3 5.56mm light machine gun was developed to replace the 7.62mm M60 in service with Republic of Korea Army (ROKA) infantry squads. The K3 ...

• Land: battle management systems, Land: fire control systems

  SITUAR

  Developed by Avibras, SITUAR ( Sistema Integrado Tático Universal para Artilharia) is a universal tactical integrated artillery command and control system. It allows various artillery ...

• Light machine guns

  FN Minimi 7.62 Mk3

  In the 1970s, the FN Minimi was developed in 5.56mm and 7.62mm variants before NATO standardised on 5.56mm for light weapons. In 2002, the 7.62mm ...

• Light machine guns

  FN Minimi 5.56 Mk3

  The original FN Minimi 5.56 was developed in the 1970s to meet the requirements of NATO nations for an LMG and is now in service ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  MDM-HF

  The MDM-3001, MDM-2201 and MDM-2501 multi-mode HF data modems provide single-tone (serial) HF data communications capability in accordance with the requirements of MIL-STD-188-110A (para 5.3). ...

• UAS: Integrated systems - uncrewed

  skyISTAR

  skyISTAR is a platform-agnostic sensor mission management system. Its service-orientated architecture eases system reconfiguration and the introduction of different sensor suites to match a range ...

• Suppressors

  FA556MG

  The Fast Attach 5.56mm Machine Gun sound suppressor (FA556MG) is designed for use on the M249, MK46 or Para versions of the Minimi M249 SAW.  ...

• Rescue Wrap

  The Rescue Wrap is a self-contained patient transport system designed to maintain patient body temperature. This patented three-part system can be easily modified for use ...

• Rescue Harness

  The lightweight sit-in rescue harness was originally developed in coordination with the Danish Air Force. It is available in several versions to match SAR requirements. ...

• Rescue Litters

  Lifesaving Systems manufactures several models of fixed and collapsible rescue litters that have been used as standard equipment for helicopter rescue by the US military ...

• Rescue Baskets

  The Collapsible Rescue Basket combines compact storage capabilities of rescue nets with the ruggedness, rigidity and safety of solid-frame rescue baskets, claims the company. The ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  RF-7800H-MP

  The L3Harris RF-7800H-MP is a manpack HF radio with expanded data capabilities for long-range communications. First delivered in 2012, it remains in service with several militaries ...

• 7A-05

  The Tianjin Aurora 7A-05 rotary-wing UAV is a commercial platform with four arms and an upper and lower dual rotor on each arm. 

• 76378

  The 76378 is an electric rescue hoist.

• D-LOK Rescue

  The D-LOK Helicopter Rescue Hoist Hook has been developed to replace the double rescue hook and other current helicopter hoist hooks. It incorporates a double-lock ...