• Defence Notes

  German Army structural reforms forge ahead

  28th August 2014

  The German Army is pushing drastic reforms that will see a downsized force continue to retain a warfighting capability whilst focusing on low-medium intensity operations. …

• Naval Warfare

  Somali pirates bide their time

  27th August 2014

  A former hostage held for more than four years by Somali pirates believes that attack levels in the Indian Ocean will rise again if ship-owners …

• Digital Battlespace

  US Navy CANES programme vendors selected

  22nd August 2014

  Five companies have been selected to compete for delivery orders under the US Navy’s Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services (CANES) programme to upgrade cybersecurity, …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Northrop keeps faith in Euro Hawk

  21st August 2014

  Germany’s Euro Hawk high altitude long endurance (HALE) UAS programme is still very much alive, senior officials at Northrop Grumman continue to insist. Speaking to …

• Defence Helicopter

  Z-18F ASW helicopter breaks cover

  21st August 2014

  A larger People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopter has long been expected and a new platform is now currently undergoing trials, according …

• Digital Battlespace

  Airborne Systems wins RNZN decoy contract

  20th August 2014

  Airborne Systems Europe will supply the FDS3 decoy system to the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) under a £3.4 million three-year contract with the New …

• Defence Helicopter

  First RAN Landing Helicopter Dock nears delivery

  19th August 2014

  The first Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) ship under construction for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has sailed on her final contractor sea trials before delivery …

• Naval Warfare

  Serco wins US military CIWS installation contract

  18th August 2014

  Serco will provide installation support for Close-In Weapons Systems (CIWS) on US Navy, US Army and US Coast Guard vessels under a single-award IDIQ contract …

• Military Logistics

  Lockheed Martin exoskeleton to be tested by US Navy

  18th August 2014

  Lockheed Martin will supply two FORTIS exoskeletons to the US Navy for evaluation and testing under a contract announced on 18 August. The contract was …

• Land Warfare

  NZ pushes ahead with rifle replacement

  15th August 2014

  New Zealand released a request for tender (RfT) for its Individual Weapon Replacement Programme (IWRP) on 14 August. The IWRP was officially initiated in March, …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Development cycle continues for Taiwan's 'Reaper'

  14th August 2014

  Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) is in the process of evaluating a secretive, long range UAV copied from the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper, Shephard …

• Naval Warfare

  OSI Maritime receives Turkish Navy order

  13th August 2014

  OSI Maritime Systems (OSI) will provide the Turkish Navy with its Warship Navigation System under a newly signed contract, announced on 12 August. The Warship …

• Defence Helicopter

  Rotorcraft heavyweights selected for JMR TD phase

  13th August 2014

  In a widely anticipated move, the US Army has chosen Bell Helicopter and Sikorsky-Boeing to build demonstrators for the Joint Multi-Role - Technology Demonstrator (JMR-TD) …

• Naval Warfare

  Neptune expands into port crisis management training

  12th August 2014

  Neptune Maritime Security is assisting major ports across Asia, the Middle East and Africa address security threats, with the delivery of crisis management training to …

• Naval Warfare

  Latest Gulf of Guinea piracy incident signals strategy change

  11th August 2014

  Security experts Dryad Maritime have warned of a potentially major change in pirate strategy off the West Coast of Africa after an unsuccessful attempt to …

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 ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | SIGINT Vessel Procurement [Spain]

  The Spanish Navy urges the replacement of the intelligence gathering ship Alerta, which has been in service since 1992. In April 2025, Spain released its upgraded ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | SIGINT Vessel Procurement [Spain]

  The Spanish Navy urges the replacement of the intelligence gathering ship Alerta, which has been in service since 1992. In April 2025, Spain released its upgraded ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  SIGINT Vessel Procurement [Spain]

  Programme Background Requirements The Spanish Navy urges the replacement of the intelligence gathering ship Alerta, which has been in service since 1992. Prior to that, ...

• 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, ...

• 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 - 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 ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-390 Options [Portugal]

  Programme Background Leadership from Embraer and the Portuguese Air Force formalised a contract that includes 10 aircraft options that can be utilised by any NATO ...

• Destroyers

  TF-2000 Destroyers (Milgem Project) [Turkey]

  Programme Background Requirements The TF-2000 class Air Defence Warfare (ADW) destroyers are part of Turkeys Milgem project to revitalise the fleet. The ships are intended ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  MK244 Armour Piercing Discarding Sabot (APDS) Enhanced Lethality Cartridge (ELC)

  MK244 Armour Piercing Discarding Sabot (APDS) Enhanced Lethality Cartridge (ELC) is a 20mm medium calibre round manufactured by General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems.

• 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 ...

• Anti-ship missiles, Surface-to-surface 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.

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  MK149 Armor-Piercing Discarding Sabot

  The MK149 Armor-Piercing Discarding Sabot (APDS) is a 20mm medium calibre round manufactured by General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems.

• Unguided Tank Ammunition

  105mm M490 Target Practice - Tracer

  The 105mm M490 Target Practice - Tracer is a tank training round manufactured by General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems.

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

  Kh-31

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

• 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.

• 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 ...

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  20MM PGU-28 A/B Semi-Armor Piercing High Explosive Incendiary (SAPHEI)

  The 20MM PGU-28 A/B Semi-Armor Piercing High Explosive Incendiary (SAPHEI) is a medium-calibre round manufactured by General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems.

• Unguided Tank Ammunition

  M724A2 Target Practice Discarding Sabot-Tracer

  The M724A2 Target Practice Discarding Sabot-Tracer is a 105mm training tank round manufactured by General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems. The US Army procured the 1,623 rounds ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...