• Air Warfare

  Indonesia commits to further collaboration with Turkey, eyes Kaan jet and MILDEN programmes

  14th April 2025

  The two countries have already signed defence industrial partnerships in recent years, most recently between Republikorp and Turkish firm Baykar in February 2025.

• Land Warfare

  BAE to build more M109A7s as the search goes on to extend range

  7th August 2024

  The M109A7 Self-Propelled Howitzers (SPH) entered full rate production in 2020 and the most recent order brings the total contract value to almost US$3 billion.

• Digital Battlespace

  Piercing the fog of war via battlespace management

  30th August 2024

  Battle Management Systems are emerging as increasingly important tools for commanders making decisions in fluid combat situations.

• Land Warfare

  US Army to field first human-machine platoon in two years

  1st April 2025

  The Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office plans to deploy armoured and infantry platoon configurations around FY2027.

• Naval Warfare

  Long development phases for capital ships not viable to deal with future threats, says Indra

  27th February 2025

  Defence technology firm Indra believes governments, militaries and industry must focus more on technology to achieve effective naval warfighting.

• Land Warfare

  US Army set for Beowulf CATV first-year delivery milestone as Arctic threats mount

  1st August 2024

  Deliveries will enable the service to progress with the replacement of the ageing fleet of SUSVs.

• Digital Battlespace

  BAE Systems to provide radios for South Korean aircraft

  11th July 2024

  AN/ARC-232A is a Starfire radio that provides VHF/UHF communications to airborne platforms and the transceiver is software-programmable, allowing for multiple waveform support as well as optional national electronic counter counter-measure (ECCM) capability.

• Naval Warfare

  Keel laid for Royal Navy’s next-generation nuclear submarine

  25th March 2025

  HMS Dreadnought will be the first of the four Dreadnought class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) scheduled to enter service in the early 2030s. Following its keel-laying ceremony last week, Shephard takes a deeper dive into the class which will eventually replace the Royal Navy's long-standing Vanguard class of boats.

• Naval Warfare

  Work begins on Type 26 frigate HMS Sheffield

  29th November 2024

  Manufacture of the fifth UK City-class frigate has begun in Scotland.

• Naval Warfare

  Latest Virginia-class submarine, USS Iowa, commissioned

  8th April 2025

  SSN-797 was commissioned as USS Iowa, the first Virginia-class submarine of the second Trump administration. It was described as “just the beginning” of a revitalisation of US naval shipbuilding by Secretary of the Navy John Phelan.

• Land Warfare

  Vietnam orders self-propelled howitzers from South Korea

  6th March 2025

  Vietnam turns to Hanwha Aerospace as it looks to reduce reliance on Russian military systems.

• Land Warfare

  Rheinmetall locks in $950 million purchase of US company to strengthen position

  3rd December 2024

  Rheinmetall is working to open up the US market and the potential billions of dollars on offer. In order to get in the door it has purchased engineering company Loc Performance Products.

• Naval Warfare

  Type 23 Duke-class frigate HMS St Albans completes mid-life refit

  2nd December 2024

  HMS St Albans’ refit included an update in FOST training to help staff adapt to new technology and routines.

• Land Warfare

  Next-generation colour micro-LED for soldiers on the horizon

  6th November 2024

  US company Kopin supplies displays for a range of systems and companies and is working on a range of light-emitting diode (LED) displays.

• Land Warfare

  XM30 progress is ‘looking good’ according to US Army project office

  28th October 2024

  The XM30 is one of several vehicle replacement programmes coming down the line for US forces and the most recent effort to replace Bradley infantry fighting vehicles.

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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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, ...

• 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). 

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  TTF

  BAE Systems manages the Typhoon Training Facility (TTF) for the UK MoD at RAF Coningsby, England. The facility supports the operational conversion unit and squadron ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  AAV SU

  In May 2014, BAE Systems and SAIC received contracts from the USMC to develop survivability upgrade proposals for a portion of its 1,060-strong BAE Systems ...