• Land Warfare

  Polaris adds remote weapon station to MRZR Alpha light vehicle

  28th June 2023

  Polaris displayed an MRZR Alpha vehicle fitted with a Kongsberg Protector RS2 remote weapon station (RWS) at the Modern Day Marine (MDM) expo in Washington DC.

• Training

  US Army to use customised QinetiQ Banshee Jet 80+ target for training

  18th May 2023

  QinetiQ's MQM-185B target, based on the Banshee Jet 80+, aims to provide the US Army with hyper-realistic training capabilities.

• Land Warfare

  Contract award imminent for new British Army bridging capability

  16th May 2023

  The UK MoD is expected to award a contract to WFEL to provide replacements for the Royal Engineers' Close Support Bridge and General Support Bridge systems later this year.

• Land Warfare

  BAE Systems lands three-year US Army contract for precision weapons R&D

  19th May 2023

  BAE Systems has been awarded a further $72.5 million R&D contract to work on long-range cannon-fired guided munitions for the US Army.

• Training

  Poland signs support deal for M-346 jet trainer

  17th February 2023

  Leonardo and WZL1 will increase the Polish M-346 advanced trainer jet fleet's availability to meet combat pilot training requirements.

• Defence Helicopter

  Thales to supply standby flight instruments for Airbus H160M helicopter

  29th June 2023

  The first military application for Thales' third-generation Integrated Electronic Standby Instruments (IESI) will be the Guépard Joint Light Helicopter version of the Airbus H160.

• Land Warfare

  As the Ukraine war passes the 18-month mark, how are NATO’s factories meeting the artillery challenge?

  18th September 2023

  NATO is rapidly increasing its supply of equipment to Ukraine in a number of key areas including tube artillery and, crucially, its ammunition. Shephard analyses how the alliance's members are stepping up to this challenge after years of industrial neglect.

• Defence Helicopter

  Argentina orders Bell 407s for military search and rescue missions

  6th June 2023

  Argentina is to acquire six Bell 407 helicopters for search and rescue operations by the country's army and air force under a government-to-government contract with Canada.

• Land Warfare

  European countries test use of mixed reality in combat vehicles

  26th July 2023

  Estonia and Croatia recently conducted trials with the Vegvisir Mixed Reality Situational Awareness System.

• Air Warfare

  Ukraine lessons: is bringing an attack helicopter to a missile fight too dangerous?

  15th September 2023

  According to multiple OSINT sources, Russian forces have lost possibly as many as 200 rotary-wing aircraft since February 2022. Some of these occurred in early high-profile operations, but most have been attrition casualties during the ongoing fighting. Shephard analyses the nature of these losses, and what lessons NATO attack helicopter operators should draw.

• Naval Warfare

  Taiwan reveals first indigenous submarine to much fanfare

  2nd October 2023

  Taiwan has made good progress with its submarine programme, revealing its initial boat in late September.

• 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.

• Training

  Elbit wins Boxer and Challenger 3 sim contract under British Army's Project Vulcan

  10th May 2023

  Elbit Systems UK will deliver devices to train British Army operators on the Boxer armoured vehicle and Challenger 3 main battle tank.

• Digital Battlespace

  Smartshooter seeks US military interest in remote control fire control stations

  30th June 2023

  Smartshooter has unveiled a remotely controlled fire control system (FCS) integrated with radar and is looking for US DoD interest.

• Land Warfare

  Inflation hits US Army modernisation plans

  26th April 2023

  As the increase in the branch’s budget proposal did not cover the inflation rates, the army is losing its spending power, impacting its acquisition and development programmes.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Rosomak [Poland - Second Batch]

  Programme Background Requirement The Polish Army selected Patria's XC-360 Armored Modular Vehicle (AMV) to meet its requirement for a new 8x8 armoured vehicle to replace ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Rosomak [Poland - Third Batch]

  Programme Background The Polish Army selected the Rosomak 8x8 armoured vehicle (a version of Patria's Armored Modular Vehicle (AMV) 8x8 produced under licence by Rosomak) ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  Wizjer [Poland]

  Programme Background Requirements In its Technical Modernisation Programme 2013-2022, the Polish Ministry of National Defense (MND) identified the need for several new types of UAVs ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Rosomak [Poland - Fourth Batch]

  Programme Background The Polish Army selected the Rosomak 8x8 armoured vehicle (a version of Patria's Armored Modular Vehicle (AMV) 8x8 produced under licence by Rosomak) ...

• Tanks

  Wilk

  Programme Background The Wilk programme was included in the Polish MoDs Technical Modernisation Plan of the Polish Armed Forces for 2021-2035. It was primarily aimed ...

• Special operations vehicles

  Pegaz Special Operations Vehicles

  Programme BackgroundRequirementThe Polish MoD has a long-standing requirement to procure a new 4x4 tactical vehicle to replace the M1165A1 HMMWVs and Oshkosh M-ATVs currently in ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Rosomak [Poland - Fifth Batch]

  Programme Background The Polish Army selected the Rosomak 8x8 armoured vehicle (a version of Patria's Armored Modular Vehicle (AMV) 8x8 produced under licence by Rosomak) ...

• Tanks

  M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams [Poland - Forecast]

  Programme Background Requirement The Polish Army wants to replace its legacy Soviet T-72 MBTs with new NATO-standard platforms to increase interoperability with its allies and ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  NBPWP Borsuk (Poland)

  Programme Background One of the highest priority equipment procurement programmes for the Polish MoD is the procurement of a new, NATO-standard platform to replace around ...

• Tanks

  M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams [Poland]

  Programme Background Requirement Since the early 2010s Poland wanted to upgrade its Soviet-era tank fleet due to modernisation requirements, the need to increase interoperability with NATO ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4

  4x4 Command and Reconnaissance Vehicle (Poland)

  Programme Background The Polish Army wants to replace legacy Soviet equipment procured during the Cold War with new NATO-standard platforms to enhance its interoperability with ...

• Tanks

  K2 [Poland - Phase I]

  Programme Background Requirement Poland's K2 purchase is the successor of the Wilk programme which aimed to replace the country's Soviet-era T-72 and PT-91 MBTs with a ...

• Loitering munitions

  Nagastra-1 [India]

  Programme Background Contract Award As reported by TheDefensePost, Solar Industries Nagpur's subsidiary Economic Explosive Ltd was awarded a 2.12 billion Indian rupee ($27.31 million) contract in April 2023 to supply 450 ...

• Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles, Special operations vehicles

  Żmija Long-Range Reconnaissance Vehicle

  Programme Background The Polish Army launched a tender to procure 118 Żmija Long Range Reconnaissance Vehicles (LRRVs) in March 2015. This programme is part of a ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  Kruk / AH-64E Apache [Poland]

  Programme Background In May 2019, Wojciech Skurkiewicz, the Polish deputy defence, released some details on the helicopter programme. Part of Poland's broader defence modernisation plan, the tender ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Rosomak

  The Rosomak is a variant of Patria's 8x8 Armored Modular Vehicle (AMV) platform produced under licence in Poland. Approximately 90% of the vehicle's components are manufactured by Polish ...

• Land: RWS

  ZSSW-30

  The ZSSW-30 is an unmanned turret developed by a consortium of Huta Stalowa Wola (HSW) and WB Electronics. Armed with a 30mm cannon, 7.62mm coaxial machine ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Anders Multirole Combat Platform

  The tracked WPB Anders multirole combat platform was designed to replace the BMP-1 IFV and other vehicles in Polish Army service. The Anders family is ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  W-3 Sokol

  The Leonardo/PZL-Świdnik W-3 Sokol twin-engine utility and combat support helicopter was designed and is built-in Poland. The latest version is the W-3PL Gluszec, an upgraded ...

• Self-propelled guns, Self-propelled missile systems

  ZSU-23-4MP Biala

  ZSU-23-4MP Biala is the a locally developed Polish  upgrade of ZSU-23-4 Shilka tracked four-barrel 23mm anti-aircraft gun developed in 1957-65 by Mytishchi Engineering Works to meet the ...

• Tanks

  PT-91

  The PT-91 Twardy (Hard) tracked MBT is a derivative of the Soviet T-72M1 produced under licence in Poland by Zaklady Mechaniczne Bumar Łabedy, now part ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - Radar Warning Receivers

  TDS-H

  The TDS-H threat detection system is a compact, user-programmable RWR. Its sensitive instantaneous frequency-measurement capability enables high POI and early warning. The system utilises miniaturised ...

• Self-propelled mortars

  Rak

  HSW unveiled its Rak 120 mm SP mortar turret at MSPO 2008. It is designed to be integrated onto any suitable tracked or wheeled AFV ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4

  Patriot II

  The Patriot II multipurpose 4x4 armoured vehicle is a further development of Excalibur Army's original Patriot.  Longer and heavier than its predecessor, the Patriot II ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Krab

  Poland selected a modified version of the BAE Systems AS90M Braveheart 155mm/52cal turret to meet its requirement for a new SPH. Poland’s HSW is prime ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  LPG

  The Lightweight Tracked Chassis (LPG) is being developed by HSW for the Polish Army. Unlike previous attempts to develop an LPG, the new vehicle dispenses ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AW249

  The AW249, or New Exploration and Escort Helicopter (NEES), is an attack helicopter being developed for the Italian Army by Leonardo based on the AW149 tactical transport helicopter. It ...

• Military UGVs

  Perun UGV

  Perun, a developmental 4x4 Uncrewed Ground Vehicle, was first introduced at the MSPO 2018 trade show in Kielce. It is engineered for combat and reconnaissance ...

• Land: NVGs

  MU-3 KOS

  The MU-3 KOS is a helmet-mounted NV device with a built-in IR illuminator for use in total darkness. The system's design allows cooperation with a ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  FlyEye

  WB Group manufactures the FlyEye, a hand-launched mini-UAS designed to provide reconnaissance capabilities.  With a modular configuration and the ability to host more than one payload, ...