• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2021: Tactical intelligence triad to breathe new cyber life into BCTs

  12th October 2021

  Cyber has been a missing ingredient in US Army planning for Brigade Combat Teams, but change is in the air.

• Land Warfare

  Manpack and Leader enter full-rate production

  4th October 2021

  Following a long process of development, acquisition and trials the US Army is proceeding with full-rate production of its new two-channel software-defined radios that will fully integrate frontline units into the Integrated Tactical Network.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUSA 2021: Textron makes the cut for FTUAS downselect

  10th October 2021

  As the US Army's Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) programme ramps up, Textron has revealed it plans on scaling up the company's Aerosonde HQ in a bid to outdo competitors and support future needs of the service.

• Digital Battlespace

  AUSA 2021: US Army networking capability rolls out

  7th October 2021

  Expeditionary Signals Battalions are undergoing a process of modernisation to enable them to better provide networking and mission command support to deployed forces.

• Land Warfare

  US Army advances future long-range fires

  8th September 2021

  As the US Army drives its new programmes for long-range precision fires weapons forward, two of them are expected to come to fruition in the next couple of years.

• Air Warfare

  General Atomics lines up Gray Eagle ER Link 16 tests

  9th August 2021

  Modernisation of the US Army's MQ-1C Gray Eagle ISR UAV will soon include new Link 16 tests under the aircraft's Product Improvement Program.

• Land Warfare

  USMC recce capability moves forward

  12th August 2021

  After earlier efforts to replace the USMC's LAV-25 8x8 wheeled vehicle it has embarked on the Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV) programme to develop new platforms to choose from. However, the USMC is also looking at an alternative option to modify the ACV as well.

• Land Warfare

  US Army UGV ramps up after overcoming complications

  8th June 2021

  After a project re-compete, GDLS is now increasing deliveries to meet US Army requirements for a robotic mule to support its infantry units.

• Training

  US S&T technologies target FMS customers

  21st June 2021

  The US Army International Programs Office has announced the latest round of FMS programmes, with the majority being delivered over the next 18 months.

• Land Warfare

  US Army indirect fire initiative advances

  24th May 2021

  The US Army is pushing ahead with the procurement of an indirect fire air defence capability on an aggressive timeline, to provide the protection needed in any future conflict against a near-peer competitor.

• Special Operations

  SOF expands special reconnaissance capabilities

  18th May 2021

  USSOCOM brings space and unmanned capabilities to the deployed tactical user, as a more contested operating environment poses potential problems.

• Land Warfare

  ISVs begin operator training

  18th May 2021

  Following the delivery of prototype ISV examples to the US Army last year, manufacturer GM Defense has started to hand over ISV units for operational testing.

• Defence Helicopter

  US Army issues CD&RR Phase 2 contracts for FLRAA

  31st March 2021

  Bell Textron and Sikorsky-Boeing will complete Competitive Demonstration and Risk Reduction phase of Future Long Range Assault Aircraft programme by 30 March 2022.

• Digital Battlespace

  US Army defines next level of networking

  8th April 2021

  New communications systems for the US Army in Capability Set 25 will incorporate features such as automated network management, cloud capabilities and SATCOM enhancements.

• Training

  Russian and Chinese threats drive US Army OPFOR vehicle programme

  19th March 2021

  Although it is upgrading many of its OPFOR Surrogate Vehicles, the US Army has started the ball rolling on replacing the current M113-based fleet with prototypes expected over the next two years.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) Alternative [USA]

  Programme Background FARA Programme As covered in more detail in a separate entry on Defence Insight, the US Army initiated the FARA project in 2018 to develop a ...

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

  MQ-1 Gray Eagle [US Army]

  Programme Background Required Quantity Although the US Army first envisioned a requirement for 132 MQ-1C Gray Eagles, the US Army's Army Acquisition Objective (AAO) was ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) [USA]

  Programme Background Requirement In 2018, the US Army initiated the FARA project to develop a replacement for Army attack and scout helicopters, such as the OH-58D Kiowa and AH-64 ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) [USA]

  Programme Background US Army's Future Vertical Lift Programme The FLRAA is one of three strands of a broader army programme. The others are the Future ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) [USA]

  Programme Background Programme Objective The Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) will provide a tactical ISTAR capability for US Army Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs). It is intended to ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Major networking projects

  FORCEnet

  A USMC and USN effort to implement network-centric operations, FORCEnet uses a series of concepts to improve communications, enhance situational awareness and enable sharing of time-sensitive ...

• Land: NVGs

  Digitally Enhanced NVG

  Designed as part of the US Army’s Enhanced NVG programme, this goggle uses digital imagery to assist soldier mobility and situational awareness under a range ...

• EW test systems, Air: air combat simulators

  MAST

  The Man-Portable Aircraft Survivability Trainer (MAST) replicates the visual and spectral effects of a shoulder-fired IR missile threat to stimulate UV-based aircraft survivability equipment systems ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Combatant Craft Heavy (CCH) SEALION

  The Combatant Craft Heavy (CCH) SEALION (Sea Air Land Insertion, Observation and Neutralization) is a low-observable semi-submersible craft employed by U.S. Naval Special Warfare Special ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  LSMP

  US Army Simulation, Training and Instrumentation Command selected Rockwell Collins to perform the LIFT Simulator Modernization Program (LSMP) delivery order under the STRI Omnibus Contract. ...

• Land: air defence radar

  SkyChaser

  The SkyChaser is a lightweight on-the-move (OTM) radar designed for tracking targets from a moving platform. Compact and efficient, it features a panel that can be mounted ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  AN/PRC-148C/D IMBITR

  The AN/PRC-148 Improved Multiband Inter-Intra Team Radio (IMBITR) is a dual-channel, certified networking radio designed to enhance communications. The IMBITR is a variant of the ...

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

  Gray Eagle ER

  The Gray Eagle Extended Range (ER) is an improved derivative of the US Army's MQ-1C Gray Eagle. Compared to the original Gray Eagle, the Gray ...