• Naval Warfare

  US Navy moves quickly with uncrewed vessels and industry follows

  23rd June 2025

  The US Navy (USN) is evolving into a hybrid fleet with uncrewed systems supporting crewed vessels and companies working to provide new solutions. In the case of Ocean Aero, its Triton uncrewed surface vessel can also be used underwater.

• Land Warfare

  IDEX 2025: Shifting sands – the Middle East’s defence landscape in flux (video)

  13th February 2025

  As Western influence wanes, Middle Eastern countries are leveraging defence modernisation to assert regional dominance, while global players such as China and Turkey seize new market opportunities. Sam Hart, Senior Land Analyst at Shephard Group, offers insights into how these developments are reshaping the region’s defence landscape.

• Air Warfare

  USAF tests Harpoon missile integration on F-16 aircraft

  4th March 2025

  The integration of the Harpoon missile on the Lockheed Martin fighter worked to showcase the rapid speed at which a ‘gateway system’ integration can add new capabilities to aircraft.

• Naval Warfare

  Horizon-class vessels complete critical design review in mid-life upgrade

  8th April 2025

  The critical design review puts the vessels on course to be fully upgraded by the end of 2030.

• Naval Warfare

  TKMS joins forces with Norwegian shipbuilder for Fridtjof Nansen frigate replacement bid

  28th March 2025

  Four shipbuilders have been downselected to build the frigate replacement programme, and TKMS hopes the new deal will give it a geographical advantage.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  SOF Week 2025: Kraken Technology group debuts K3 Scout USV in North America

  6th May 2025

  High-performance maritime industry player Kraken Technology Group, based in the UK, has used the SOF Week conference in Tampa, Florida this week to debut its K3 Scout uncrewed surface vessel (USV) to the North American market.

• Naval Warfare

  BAE Systems to collaborate with Umoe Mandal on Type 26 frigate and Littoral Strike Craft

  24th April 2025

  The agreement is intended to boost opportunities for both UK and Norwegian naval shipbuilding.

• Naval Warfare

  Royal Navy destroyer completes UAV live-fire exercise before heading to the Indo-Pacific

  3rd April 2025

  HMS Dauntless ran a full UAV test to mimic potential real-world threats.

• Naval Warfare

  ASFAT and United Defense Technology partner to bid for Royal Thai Navy frigate build

  14th March 2025

  The Thai and Turkish companies will work together to bid for the four-vessel contract.

• Defence Notes

  Singapore plots a way forward with new technology and formation reform

  24th July 2025

  Singapore spends about 3.5% of GDP on defence and the section’s budget sits on high on the proportion of national spending. The country is investing in uncrewed technology, medium- and long-range fires and new submarines and ships with the hunt also on for new maritime patrol aircraft.

• Air Warfare

  Co-operation continues as tri-national F-35s break new ground in Pacific exercise

  22nd April 2025

  The February exercise marked a milestone in multinational cooperation with fifth-generational air warfare capabilities, but will it continue considering shifting US politics?

• Naval Warfare

  NAVDEX 2025: First of UAE Navy’s four Falaj-3 OPVs commissioned

  21st February 2025

  The vessels were first discussed a full ten years before the commissioning ceremony, and three more are due within the next three years.

• Air Warfare

  MBDA backs British startup to continue development on heavy-lift drone

  29th April 2025

  The investment will bring together the Hybrid Drones and MBDA to enable the former to further develop its Hydra 400 UAV, previously showcased by the British Army.

• Land Warfare

  Germany places $342 million for Rheinmetall logistics trucks

  21st January 2025

  The trucks are being ordered within a framework agreement concluded in July 2024 which covers the delivery of up to 6,500 trucks worth up to €3.5 billion (US$3.6 billion).

• Air Warfare

  Australia approved for $1 billion order of AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles

  14th April 2025

  The greenlight by the US State Department for up to 400 missiles reinforces the need for increased solid rocket motor (SRM) production and highlights the reason Australia wants to develop a local missile capability.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Minehunters

  Tripartite Class Replacement Programme (1-6) [Belgium]

  Programme Background A joint Dutch-Belgian procurement programme is procuring 12 new Mine Countermeasures Vessels (MCMV) to replace the ageing Tripartite-class MCM, which are due to ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Skeldar V-200 Dutch Navy

  Programme Background The Dutch Ministry of Defence issued a notice seeking information regarding the potential acquisition of a vertical takeoff and landing unmanned aerial vehicle ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Skeldar V-200 Belgian Navy

  Programme Background For the joint MCM programme between Belgium and the Netherlands, the Dutch Ministry of Defence issued a notice calling for information regarding the ...

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

  Spy Ranger SMDR - Contracted (France)

  Programme Background Requirement The French Army has identified a need for a new tactical UAS to replace the Drac UAS, which first entered service in ...

• Minehunters

  Tripartite Class Replacement Programme [Netherlands]

  Programme Background A joint Dutch-Belgian procurement programme is procuring 12 new Mine Countermeasures Vessels (MCMV) to replace the ageing Tripartite class MCM's which are due ...

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

  Spy Ranger SMDR - Option (France)

  Programme Background Requirement The French Army has identified a need for a new tactical UAS to replace the Drac UAS, which first entered service in ...

• Minehunters

  Project SEA 1905 - MMCMMS [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirements Australia is looking to acquire up to eight new advanced mine countermeasures/hydrographic survey vessels under the Project SEA 1905 Maritime Mine Countermeasures ...

• OPVs

  Patrouilleurs Hauturiers OPVS (former Patrouilleurs Océanique) [France]

  Programme Background Requirements The programme aims to procure new OPVs that will replace the D'Estienne d'Orves-class and the Flamant-class vessels. The OPVs are intended to be armed ...

• Minehunters

  Al Jawf Class Replacement [Saudi Arabia]

  Programme Background Requirements The Royal Saudi Navy urges the replacement of three Al Jawf-class minehunters. Based on the Sandown-class design, the ships entered service in the ...

• Submarines: conventional, attack

  Project Sea 1000 (Attack Class) - Cancelled [Australia]

  Programme Background The competition for Australia’s SEA 1000 Future Submarine project for 12 new SSKs was won by the French shipbuilder Naval Group in 2016 ...

• Corvettes

  Multirole Corvette Programme [Romania]

  Programme Background Timeline Romania, since 2014. has seen a significant increase in its defence budget, which has allowed for more room to procure modern platforms. In ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Submarine Procurement [Indonesia]

  The Indonesian Navy has a long-standing desire for a larger submarine fleet. The TNI-AL currently has four SSKs in its inventory, including one Cakra-class submarine in ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Submarine Procurement [Indonesia]

  The Indonesian Navy has a long-standing desire for a larger submarine fleet. The TNI-AL currently has four SSKs in its inventory, including one Cakra-class submarine in ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Submarine Procurement (1-2) [Indonesia]

  The Indonesian Navy has a long-standing desire for a larger submarine fleet. The TNI-AL currently has four SSKs in its inventory, including one Cakra-class submarine in ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Submarine Procurement (1-2) [Indonesia]

  The Indonesian Navy has a long-standing desire for a larger submarine fleet. The TNI-AL currently has four SSKs in its inventory, including one Cakra-class submarine in ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military - UUVs

  A9-M

  The A9-M is a light, man-portable AUV, enabling deployment from small craft and in shallow water as a hand-launched vehicle. It is developed Exail. This AUV ...

• Light UGVs

  Cobra Mk2

  The Cobra Mk2 is a 5kg UGV designed for EOD/IED disposal and CBRN operations. The modular architecture of the Cobra Mk2 E supports different types of ...

• Submarines: conventional, attack

  Scorpene Class

  The Chilean Scorpene-class were procured from the consortium composed of Naval Group and Navantia in the late 1990s. The submarines, which were delivered between 2005 and ...

• UAS: Integrated systems - uncrewed

  I4 Drone

  The I4 Drone is a multi-drone, multi-environment mission system for naval drones. It has been designed and developed by Naval Group (formerly DCNS) for an ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  IT180

  The Infotron IT180 VTOL mini-UAS is designed to perform a range of missions in civilian and military sectors, such as surveillance, site protection, inspection, pollution ...

• Military - USVs

  Inspector 90

  The Inspector 90 is a multipurpose USV designed by Exail, able to be operated in autonomous mode, remoted control or onboard steering. Its performances and ...

• Military - UUVs

  K-Ster C

  K-Ster C is a mine disposal system (MDS) equipped with a tiltable warhead. It is produced by Exail and in-service with navies in both Asia ...

• Minehunters

  City Class

  Twelve new Mine Countermeasures Vessels (MCMVs) are being built to replace the ageing Tripartite-class MCMVs due to retire from service in 2023. The programme is ...

• Military - UUVs

  K-Ster I

  K-Ster I is a lightweight, self-propelled ROV developed for mine warfare applications. It is designed by Exail to complement their K-Ster C model.

• Military - UUVs

  A18-M

  The A18-M AUV is a configuration of ECA Group’s A18 AUV family, dedicated to military applications. With magnetic and acoustic signatures compliant to STANAG 1364, ...

• Light UGVs

  TSR 202

  The TSR 202 is a UGV in service with French forces and other military and police forces around the world for EOD/IED detection and neutralisation, ...

• Ground control stations

  MAMBA

  MAMBA is an IED and CBRN countermeasures system allowing the transport, deployment and control of UGVs or UAVs in hostile areas. A light manned vehicle ...

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

  Nomad (Group 3)

  In March 2025, Sikorsky unveiled an unnamed tail-sitter small UAV referred to as the Rotor Blown Wing. In October 2025, Sikorsky unveiled the Nomad family, which includes the ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  ECA Flight Training Device

  ECA offers a range of Flight Training Devices (FTDs), each of which is a life-size 3D replica of the cockpit. They provide flexibility of training methods and ...

• ISR Group UAS Airfield

  The ISR Group UAS Airfield, located in Savannah, Tennessee, is the largest privately owned flight facility in the US and provides capability for research, development, ...