• Defence Notes

  The centre of gravity of ‘Axis of Evil 2.0’ shifts eastwards (Opinion)

  14th September 2023

  Russia might be at the tip of the spear in terms of authoritarian aggression, but it has plenty of backers in the shape of countries like China, Iran and North Korea. Others, like India, try to duplicitously sit on the fence.

• Land Warfare

  Indian Army relaunches search for self-propelled air defence systems

  12th July 2023

  The war in Ukraine has underlined the need for mobile air defence. Unfortunately, India is making little progress in its own efforts so far.

• Naval Warfare

  Turkish shipyard to refit Nigerian Navy’s flagship

  11th June 2023

  Turkish shipbuilder Dearsan is to refit the MEKO 360 frigate NNS Aradu and supply a 57m Tuzla patrol vessel to Nigeria.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  UMS Skeldar equips V-200 UAV with Hydronalix USV

  27th June 2023

  At Modern Day Marine, drone-maker UMS Skeldar and Hydronalix announced a cooperation agreement to equip the V-200 rotary-UAS with the latter’s uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs).

• Training

  US trains Japan on air operations centre planning

  6th June 2023

  Personnel from the USAF's 505th Training Squadron have assisted Japan in understanding air operations centre planning and building an instructor cadre.

• Air Warfare

  New $156 million deal to advance UK aircrew training

  8th June 2023

  The initiative under the UK Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS) will equip Royal Navy observers and Royal Air Force weapon system officers with the skills to operate advanced aircraft.

• Land Warfare

  UK and Poland cooperating on development of future common missile

  14th July 2023

  The UK and Poland will work together to develop a future common missile based on MBDA's Common Anti-Air Modular Missile (CAMM) as part of wider cooperation between London and Warsaw.

• Naval Warfare

  UPDATED: Damen and Thales to deliver ASW frigates for Belgium and Netherlands

  5th July 2023

  Damen and Thales have signed contracts to design, build, and deliver four new anti-submarine warfare (ASW) frigates for Belgium and the Netherlands.

• Naval Warfare

  First Royal Navy Type 31 frigate to hit the water this year

  2nd June 2023

  The first of the Royal Navy’s future Inspiration-class Type 31 frigates, HMS Venturer, is scheduled to hit the water this year.

• Naval Warfare

  Royal Navy embarks on assessment phase to arm Type 31 frigates with Mk 41 VLS

  18th May 2023

  This week, the UK Royal Navy confirmed that it intends to equip the future Type 31 frigates with the Mk41 VLS.

• Land Warfare

  German Army to field Australian-made Boxer vehicles in export reversal

  12th July 2023

  Germany, the designer and builder of the Boxer, will turn to Australia for new 8x8 vehicles. Meanwhile, Hanwha continues to march forward with Australia's AS9 155mm SPHs.

• Air Warfare

  BAE Systems future-proofs Typhoon with 'Tranche 5' upgrades and GCAP synergies

  7th July 2023

  BAE Systems is working to enhance the Eurofighter Typhoon multirole fighter with advanced chip technology, delivering significant computational power and improved cyber-resilience for future air combat capabilities.

• Defence Notes

  US lawmakers to fund nearly $12 billion multi-year contracts for weapons

  3rd August 2023

  Authorisation of the US Senate Committee on Appropriations to progress with long-term acquisitions acquisition would benefit eight programmes.

• Land Warfare

  EOS books repeat Ukraine order for remote weapon stations

  28th April 2023

  After landing a contract to supply 100 remote weapon stations to Ukraine on 3 April, EOS will now supply a further 50 examples.

• Land Warfare

  Singapore drops Ultimax 100 light machine gun for US Colt IAR6940

  27th April 2023

  The Singapore Army has moved from a locally produced light machine gun to one imported from overseas.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Destroyers

  Type 83 Future Air Defence System (FADS) [UK]

  Programme Background Requirements The Daring-class (Type 45) consists of six ships, although the original plan was to have 12 destroyers. This was cut to eight in ...

• Destroyers

  Future Destroyers - ASEV (1-2) [Japan]

  Programme Background Requirements Following the Maya-class destroyers, the JMSDF will not just maintain the destroyer units they operate already but will receive two new destroyer platforms. ...

• 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 - multirole

  H-145M (Serbia)

  Serbia's aircraft will be equipped with a fast roping system, high-performance camera, fire support equipment, ballistic protection as well as an electronic countermeasures system. The ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  L-39NG Senegal

  The aircraft will feature five hard-points, two external fuel tanks with 350 lt capacity, Mk 81 and Mk 82 bombs, guided and unguided rockets, single ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  JLTV [Lithuania - Contracted]

  The Lithuanian JLTV order includes several options including ballistic armour kits, Boomerang III acoustic detection systems, M153 Protector II Common Remotely-Operated Weapon Stations (CROWS) and ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | PAK-DA - Procurement - Russia

  Russian MoD is planning to procure PAK-DA strategic bomber aircraft to replace the existing Tu-95MS Bear-H fleet, about 65 examples of which are in service with ...

• Data links

  Data links | PAK-DA - Procurement - Russia

  Russian MoD is planning to procure PAK-DA strategic bomber aircraft to replace the existing Tu-95MS Bear-H fleet, about 65 examples of which are in service with ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | PAK-DA - Procurement - Russia

  Russian MoD is planning to procure PAK-DA strategic bomber aircraft to replace the existing Tu-95MS Bear-H fleet, about 65 examples of which are in service with ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | PAK-DA - Procurement - Russia

  Russian MoD is planning to procure PAK-DA strategic bomber aircraft to replace the existing Tu-95MS Bear-H fleet, about 65 examples of which are in service with ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  JLTV [Slovenia - 2nd Batch]

  Programme Background  Slovenia began its procurement of Oshkosh Defence's JLTV 4x4 armoured vehicle in 2018, although a US government FMS contract was not signed until ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  NH90 NFH-Italy

  Programme Background  The Italian Navy has taken delivery of its first NH90 NFH helicopter in Full Operational Capability (or Step B) configuration in November 2013. ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  UNIFIL Condor Replacement [Malaysia]

  Programme Background Malaysia has long held an intention to replace the Condor 4x4 armoured vehicles deployed with its UNIFIL contingent. Nine new Guardian APCs were ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  JLTV Montenegro

  In 2017 the Montenegro Ministry of Defence announced it would allocate EUR110 million over five years to fund new military procurement. These included EUR71 million ...

• Loitering munitions

  Hero-30 [Italy]

  Programme Background Italian Budget As revealed by the Italian MoD's Multi-Year Defence Programme Document for 2021-2023, a new procurement programme to acquire a loitering munition ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Anti-ship missiles

  Brahmos II

  The BrahMos-II is the hypersonic version of the BrahMos cruise missile family currently under joint development by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia's ...

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

  3M22 Zircon

  The 3M22 Zircon, developed by Russia, is a hypersonic cruise missile representing a significant technological milestone in missile design and capability. According to the information ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  SkySonic

  The SkySonic is an advanced hypersonic missile interceptor developed by Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. Unveiled in June 2023, it is designed to counter the ...

• Air-to-surface missiles

  Mako

  Mako is an air-launched hypersonic missile developed by Lockheed Martin in collaboration with CoAspire. The missile was unveiled to the public for the first time ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  Sea Giraffe 4A Fixed Face (FF)

  The Sea Giraffe 4A FF (Fixed Face) is the fixed panel radar version of the Sea Giraffe 4A rotating radar. The system is produced by ...

• Surface-to-air missiles, Surface-to-surface missiles

  SM-6 Block IB

  The SM-6 Block IB is an advanced iteration of the Standard Missile series, designed to enhance US Navy missile defence capabilities. Slated to be operational ...

• Data links

  P1350

  P1350 are airborne-qualified IP data links that can operate at hypersonic speeds. Produced by BERTEN DSP, it provides ruggedised, low-SWaP tactical communications in electronic warfare environments. 

• Data links

  P4700

  The P4700 is an airborne-qualified IP data link produced by BERTEN. Suitable for hypersonic and high-attitude applications, it can be integrated into various platforms, including ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  Aster 30 B1 NT

  The Aster 30 B1NT (Block 1 New Technology) is a surface-to-air missile developed by MBDA as the latest addition to the Aster missile family. With ...

• Data links

  P6000

  BERTEN P6000 are defence-grade IP data links that provide a light, compact, robust, and affordable solution for airborne, maritime, and ground communications.

• Surface-to-air missiles

  Medium-range Surface-to-Air Missile Block III (M-SAM III)

  The Surface-to-Air Missile Block III (M-SAM Block III) is an advanced iteration of South Korea's medium-range air defence system. It is designed to enhance interception ...

• UAS: Integrated systems - uncrewed

  NavStorm-M

  BAE Systems' NavStorm-M is a gun-hardened, integrated anti-jamming and Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver for artillery rounds, bombs, missiles, and uncrewed systems. It was revealed ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  SPY-6(V)4

  The SPY-6(V)4 Air and Missile Defence Radar is a surveillance radar manufactured by Raytheon. It is designed to defend against ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles, ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  MD-22

  The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) unveiled the near-space hypersonic technology testbed MD-22 at the Zhuhai Airshow in 2022. Capable of speeds of Mach 7, the ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  SPY-6(V)1

  The SPY-6(V)1 is a naval surveillance radar manufactured by Raytheon. The system is designed to simultaneously defend against ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles, cruise missiles, anti-surface ...