• Naval Warfare

  Regent’s Viceroy seaglider prepares for trials

  9th August 2024

  A US-based company has been preparing to test its full-scale prototype by late 2024 with potential for defence applications including intelligence, surveillance and rapid deployment in contested environments.

• Defence Notes

  Ireland begins work on buying fighter jets and doubling the naval fleet

  3rd March 2025

  Since the release of Ireland’s Commission on the Defence Forces (CoDF) report two years ago there have been whisperings about the potential of Ireland buying fighter jets, one of the most ambitious recommendations. The prospect has now inched closer.

• Naval Warfare

  Australia narrows SEA 3000 frigate designs to TKMS and MHI

  15th November 2024

  Two modular frigate designs will be considered as the replacement to Australia’s ageing Anzac-class.

• Defence Notes

  EU commits to increased defence spending and boosting capability

  4th February 2025

  There has been increased pressure from the second-term Trump administration in the US, as there was in the first term, for increased defence spending from non-US NATO countries, a move which is noted by Europe as already occurring.

• Land Warfare

  Saab to supply air defence systems to Lithuania under $123 million deal

  10th July 2024

  Unveiled at the DSEI 2017, the Mobile Short-Range Air Defence (MSHORAD) solution, comprising the Giraffe 1X, C2 and RBS 70 NG Remote Weapon System (RWS), was developed by Saab to meet the requirement of mobile forces to identify and counter air threats.

• Training

  Fincantieri company launches VR and AR simulator for ROVs

  18th September 2024

  Designed for the Italian Navy, the simulator was presented at Mine Countermeasures Forces Command in La Spezia.

• Naval Warfare

  Babcock wins UK Royal Navy’s Dreadnought support contracts

  28th November 2023

  Babcock has won contracts worth more than £120 million to support the development and delivery of the Dreadnought-class submarines for the UK’s Royal Navy.

• Land Warfare

  Further information revealed on Swiss 81mm mortar programme

  31st July 2024

  Rheinmetall’s recent contract award to supply the Swiss Army with 81mm mortar cargo ammunition and MX2-KM 81mm mortar weapons has seen the force adopt a systems approach to its new weapon.

• Air Warfare

  Wedgetail rising as the aircraft continues to prove itself and wins fans

  9th April 2025

  The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) was the lead customer for the E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft and the platform has been ordered by several countries with platforms ordered by the UK, with the US and NATO also selecting the platform.

• Land Warfare

  Aselsan launches new batch of anti-drone solutions at SAHA Expo

  30th October 2024

  The launch of these four different solutions highlights the company’s ongoing strategic aim to design and develop technologies to combat UAVs.

• Air Warfare

  More AMRAAMs approved for Denmark under $744 million deal

  30th October 2024

  There has been a spike in demand for Raytheon’s Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs), including a US$1.2 billion Pentagon order for 12 countries as well as US Navy and US Air Force. There have also been approvals this year for sales to Israel, Norway, Romania and Singapore.

• Land Warfare

  Rheinmetall and DOK-ING to work together on armed support UGV development

  29th October 2024

  DOK-ING has a substantial heritage of UGV development, mostly in mine clearance, and the agreement with Rheinmetall will take the companies in a new direction.

• Land Warfare

  IDEX 2025: Calidus 8×8 Light Infantry Fighting Vehicle enters production

  20th February 2025

  The new Light Infantry Fighting Vehicle (LIFV) builds on Calidus’s experience with its Wahash (8×8) vehicle.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Cubic joins DARPA’s Air Combat Evolution programme for AI air combat

  29th July 2024

  The company has added its SLATE technology to the manoeuvring routine of the X-62A modified F-16 aircraft.

• Naval Warfare

  UK and US marines train to guard nuclear deterrent submarines

  22nd November 2024

  The Autumn round of Tartan Eagle training just concluded in Scotland.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  ACV-30 PRTV (USA)

  Programme Background The Armoured Combat Vehicle (ACV) programme is intended to provide a replacement for the USMC's fleet of Amphibious Assault Vehicle 7 (AAV7) tracked ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  BvS10 [Sweden]

  Programme Background The FMV announced that it had signed a contract with BAE Systems Hägglunds for 127 BvS10 MkIIBs in May 2021. These will fulfil ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  ACV (US - USMC)

  Programme Background The Armored Combat Vehicle (ACV) programme is intended to provide a replacement for the USMC's fleet of Amphibious Assault Vehicle 7 (AAV7) tracked ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  ACV - Additional Order 1 (US - USMC)

  Programme Background The Armoured Combat Vehicle (ACV) programme is intended to provide a replacement for the USMC's fleet of Amphibious Assault Vehicle 7 (AAV7) tracked ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  CV90 [Czech Republic]

  Programme Background The Czech Republic has been working on modernising its mechanised units at least since 2017, when the country launched its "Tracked IFV" programme ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  ACV - Additional Order 2 (US - USMC)

  Programme Background The Armoured Combat Vehicle (ACV) programme is intended to provide a replacement for the USMC's fleet of Amphibious Assault Vehicle 7 (AAV7) tracked ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  ACV - Additional Order 3 (US - USMC)

  Programme Background The Armoured Combat Vehicle (ACV) programme is intended to provide a replacement for the USMC's fleet of Amphibious Assault Vehicle 7 (AAV7) tracked ...

• ISR/special mission

  Airborne Electonic Attack (1-2) [Italy]

  Programme Background The acquisition effort involves a Direct Commercial Sale (DCS) for the procurement and installation of modifications and a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of ...

• OPVs

  River Class Batch 2

  Programme Background BAE Systems developed an improved version at the River class Batch 1 ships (which first entered service in 2003), to be dubbed the ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) [Japan]

  Programme Background Shephard notes that GCAP's Japanese, British and Italian components are tracked in separate entries. Programme Timeline 2020: The Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency of Japan issued ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  AAV7A1 RAM/RS (Japan - 2nd Batch)

  Programme Background The Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF) has procured the AAV7A1 RAM/RS to equip its Amphibious Assault Brigade formed in 2018. Tasked with ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  AMPV (USA)

  Programme Background The US Army initiated the AMPV programme to acquire a replacement for several variants of the M113 tracked APC, which has been in ...

• Frigates

  Global Combat Ship Programme - Batch 2 - City Class (Type 26)

  Programme Background Requirements The Type 26 fleet will need the flexibility to react to current, and future challenges as they occur, such as combat scenarios, ...

• Submarines: nuclear, attack

  Astute Class (1-7) [UK]

  Programme Background The Astute-class nuclear attack submarines (SSN) are the replacement for the UK Royal Navy's Swiftsure and Trafalgar classes of SSNs. The initial contract ...

• Tanks

  M10 Booker (US)

  Programme Background Inception & NGCV The US Army launched the MPF programme in 2015 when it unveiled its Combat Vehicle Modernization Strategy. This new platform will ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Integrated cockpit systems

  BAE Systems Avionics

  The avionics suite developed by BAE Systems, USA, is specifically designed for aircraft operating in harsh environments. The integrated suite includes caution and warning systems, ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  F-35 Training System

  BAE Systems is involved in F-35 Lightning II Training System design and sustainment, working with prime contractor Lockheed Martin. BAE Systems leads the instructional systems ...

• Naval: RF, IR and acoustic decoys

  Sea Lightning

  Developed by a joint venture between BAE Systems and General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, Sea Lightning is being offered to the USN for the Block ...

• Air: mission management systems

  BAE Systems Mission Computers and Display Systems

  The Mission Computers and Display Systems has been designed and developed by BAE Systems, UK, for military platforms. These systems are fully qualified to military, ...

• Land: air defence radar

  Celldar

  BAE Systems and Roke have developed the Celldar passive radar which detects disturbances to civilian Global System for Mobile Communications digital cellphone networks operating in ...

• Naval guns

  Bofors 40 mk4

  Bofors 40 Mk4 is a naval gun system developed and produced by BAE Systems. It was originally produced by Swedish Bofors, which was acquired by ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Fast Interceptor Craft

  The Fast Interceptor Craft (FIC) is a high-speed insertion craft developed and built by VT Halmatic, now part of BAE Systems Maritime. According to BAE ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Training Services

  Working in Saudi Arabia, BAE Systems is the prime contractor supplying training solutions. These include managing the design, development, delivery and integration of pilot and ...

• Major networking projects

  Defence Architecture Framework

  BAE Systems is developing a broad base of systems architecture expertise to execute network-centric warfare projects on behalf of the Australian Defence Force. This is ...

• Tanks

  MPF Prototype

  In 1992, the US Army selected the M8 to meet its requirement for an air-transportable Armored Gun System, but the programme was cancelled for budgetary ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  Hawk Oman Training System

  In 2014, L3 Link (now L3Harris Technologies) received a contract from BAE Systems to develop the Hawk Oman Training System (HOTS). The training system will ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  RG33

  BAE Systems RG33 is a family of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles available in both 4x4 and 6x6. The medium-weight class of BAE Systems MRAP ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Wide-angle holographic HUD

  The wide angle holographic Head-up Display (HUD) was been developed by GEC Marconi (now BAE Systems). 

• Unguided Mortar Ammunition

  L41 High Explosive (HE) Mortar Round

  The L41 High Explosive (HE) Mortar round is a high explosive 81mm mortar shell developed by BAE Systems.

• Transport

  BAe 146M/Avro RJM

  BAE Systems is offering previously owned BAE 146 and Avro RJ aircraft to air forces operating ageing turboprop and jet airliners for transport and communications ...