• Land Warfare

  Russian T-14 Armata MBT completes factory testing effort

  14th January 2019

  The Russian Army’s new T-14 Armata MBT completed its factory testing in 2018, and is now set to begin the more comprehensive state testing effort …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Airbus Helicopters VSR700 flies unmanned

  2nd January 2019

  Airbus Helicopters’ VSR700 demonstrator UAS completed a fully unmanned autonomous flight at the military airbase in Istres in the south of France in December. During …

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy to buy pair of aircraft carriers

  3rd January 2019

  The US Navy has received DoD approval to buy the third and fourth Ford-class aircraft carriers in one contract instead of two, an approach that …

• Defence Notes

  Airbus shares plunge on reported US corruption probe

  20th December 2018

  Shares in European aircraft maker Airbus tumbled more than 9% Thursday after French daily Le Monde reported it could face record fines of several billion …

• Land Warfare

  Germany ready to accept improved Leopard 2s early in 2019

  19th December 2018

  The German military will begin 2019 by accepting the first two upgraded Leopard 2 A7V MBTs to undergo an integration verification procedure before fielding. The …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  European MALE RPAS passes PDR

  20th December 2018

  The European Medium Altitude Long Endurance Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (MALE RPAS) programme  passed system preliminary design review (PDR) in late November. The milestone comes …

• Land Warfare

  Russia delivers on Vietnam and Laos tanks

  20th December 2018

  Russia is delivering T-90S and T-72B1 tanks to Vietnam and Laos respectively, fulfilling recent contracts placed by the Southeast Asian countries. The first batch from …

• Defence Helicopter

  Airbus says improper settings played role in Mali helicopter crash

  12th December 2018

  European aircraft manufacturer Airbus said 12 December that an investigation had found improper settings to have been one factor behind the deadly 2017 crash of …

• Digital Battlespace

  Finland to purchase Bittium radios

  17th December 2018

  The Finnish Defence Forces' Logistics Command has been authorised to sign an agreement with Bittium Wireless for the procurement of Bittium Tough software-defined radio (SDR) …

• Defence Notes

  Pentagon conducts latest test of US-Japan interceptor

  12th December 2018

  The US military on 11 November successfully conducted a test of a new ballistic-missile interceptor system, which is being co-developed with Japan. The launch marks …

• Training

  Vobling to further develop Carl-Gustaf VR Experience

  17th December 2018

  Bublar Group subsidiary Vobling has been selected by Saab to further develop the Carl-Gustaf Virtual Reality (VR) Experience for the HTC Vive Pro and the …

• Military Logistics

  Additional Jelcz trucks for Poland

  19th December 2018

  The Polish Armament Inspectorate has signed a contract for delivery of 888 Jelcz 442.32 4x4 high mobility, medium transport trucks. The agreement, which was signed …

• Military Logistics

  Boeing to build second KC-46 for Japan

  13th December 2018

  Boeing announced on 10 December that it will supply the Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s second KC-46 tanker following the exercise of a contract option by …

• Naval Warfare

  Algeria receives last Improved Kilo class

  9th December 2018

  The Algerian Navy has received its second Improved Kilo-class diesel-electric submarine, after the vessel completed a transit from the Admiralteyskye Verfy shipyard neat St Petersburg, …

• Defence Notes

  Indian, Chinese troops share dance year after standoff

  13th December 2018

  Indian and Chinese soldiers looked to have hit it off in their first joint exercises since a dangerous standoff last year, with videos released by …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  BTR-MDM Rakushka

  Programme Background Since 2016, 11 battalion sets of BTR-MDMs are known to have been delivered to units of the VDV in addition to 12 platforms ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  BMD-4M

  Programme Background Since 2017, 11 battalion sets of the BMD-4M have been delivered to units of the VDV in addition to 27 located at the ...

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Wolverine / Honeybadger [US]

  Programme Background During the Modern Day Marine (MDM) exhibition, held in Washington between 10-12 May 2022, XTEND announced it would supply hundreds of Wolverine platforms ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Short Range Reconnaissance (SRR) (Tranche 2) / Rucksack Portable UAS (RPUAS) [USA]

  Programme Background The Rucksack Portable UAS (RPUAS) Programme The RPUAS programme will provide the battalion and below-ground manoeuvre elements within the US Army with an ...

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

  Short Range/Short Endurance (SR/SE) [USMC]

  Programme Background Force Design 2030 The USMC Force Design 2030 is a modernisation effort to create a lighter, more agile maritime force. The update to ...

• Loitering munitions

  Warmate [Ukraine]

  Programme Background Ukraine placed an order for an undisclosed number of Warmate systems in 2017. Shepherd believes units acquired in this order later were utilised ...

• Special operations vehicles

  Ashok Leyland LBPV (India - Air Force)

  Programme Background The IAF created the Garud commando force in 2004 to protect its airbases, carry out combat search and rescue and conduct covert operations ...

• Minehunters

  Awaji Class

  Programme Background Two Awaji class mine countermeasures vessels (MCMV) were ordered from the Japanese shipyard Japan Marine United (JMU) for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) initially. ...

• OPVs

  Inlay Class (second OPV)

  Programme Background The Inlay class originally consists of a single OPV in service with the Myanmar Navy. However, a second Inlay-class OPV has been reported under construction since ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4

  Eagle V 4x4

  According to documents released by the Danish Ministry of Defence, a total of 233.6 million Danish Krone (US$34.669 million) were allocated to this programme. 62.1 ...

• OPVs

  Cyprus Second Sa'ar 62 OPV

  Programme BackgroundThe Republic of Cyrus' Ministry of Defence placed an order with Israel Shipyards for its first Sa'ar 62  OPV in December 2015 in a project valued ...

• Loitering munitions

  Warmate (2017) [Poland]

  Programme Background Order In November 2017, Poland ordered 100 sets of Warmate loitering munitions, each consisting of ten platforms, for a reported 100 million Polish Zloty ...

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

  HUSAR (2023 Order) [Germany]

  Programme Background First Order In 2015, the German Army launched the HUSAR programme to identify a replacement for its Airbus Defence & Space KZO and ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Makassar Class LPD (7)

  Indonesia signed a contract for $150 million for two LPDs in the Makassar class, KRI Makassar and KRI Surabaya, with South Korean shipbuilder Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering ...

• Patrol boats

  Rajshree Class (Flight II)

  Programme BackgroundThe Rajshree class is to consist of 13 FPVs built in two separate flights. Flight I saw construction begin in 2010 and all eight vessels ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  MDM-HF

  The MDM-3001, MDM-2201 and MDM-2501 multi-mode HF data modems provide single-tone (serial) HF data communications capability in accordance with the requirements of MIL-STD-188-110A (para 5.3). ...

• Data links

  Link 11 DTS

  The programmable Data Terminal Set (DTS) uses real-time processor architectures and signal processing algorithms. It is designed for controlled network operation in a Link 11 ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  BTR-MDM

  The BTR-MDM Rakushka is an amphibious tracked armoured vehicle developed by Kurganmashzavod to meet the Russian Airborne Forces' (VDV) need for a new air-droppable APC. ...

• Data links

  MDM-2X02N

  The MDM-2X02N is a tactical data link modem that combines the functionalities of a Link 11 DTS and Link 22 signal processor controller (SPC) into ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  MDM-Q9604

  Collins Aerospace’s MDM-Q9604 high-speed, high-data-rate HF modem is capable of transmitting data over a standard 3KHz single sideband at 9,600b/s or a 6kHz ISB at ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  BMD-4M

  The BMD-4M is based on the BMD-4, which has been in the Russian Army's airborne forces (VDV) service since 2004. It was developed to provide an ...

• EW test systems, Air: chaff, flare and decoy systems

  CAST-easy

  RUAG unveiled the Countermeasure Advanced System Test Equipment (CAST-easy) in 2017 earmarking it for the Panavia Tornado series of combat aircraft. The 2017 announcement stated ...

• Naval guns, Land: RWS

  Dragonfire

  Dragonfire is a new laser weapon system built for the UK MoD, receiving £30 million of funding in early 2017. The design of the gun ...

• Counter-UAS systems

  Drone Deterrence System

  First unveiled at the LIMA 2017 exhibition by Mitsubishi Electric, the Drone Deterrence System began to be developed in 2014 and made its first sale in ...

• Military - UUVs

  ThunderFish Alpha

  The ThunderFish Alpha (formerly DeDAvE) is an AUV designed for deep-sea military, commercial and scientific applications. In March 2017, Kraken announced a licensing agreement for ...

• Self-propelled mortars

  2S42 Lotos

  The 2S42 Lotos (Lotus) is a self-propelled artillery system that is being developed by Rostec subsidiary TsNIITochMash to replace the Russian VDV airborne forces' and ...

• Self-propelled rocket launchers

  Fletcher

  Arnold Defense, which has produced more than 1.1 million 2.75in/70mm rocket launchers for airborne applications since 1961, unveiled the Fletcher 2.75in/70mm Weapon System at the September ...

• Minehunters

  Kormoran II Class

  Three Kormoran II-class minehunters were budgeted for the Polish Navy in 2011, and a contract was placed for a prototype in 2013, with the first ...

• OPVs

  La Confiance Class (PLG)

  The La Confiance-class, also known as the Guyanese Light Patrol Vessel (PLG), in service with the French Navy, was designed by Bureau Mauric and built ...

• Submachine guns

  FN SCAR-SC

  FN Herstal unveiled the 5.56mm FN SCAR-SC (Subcompact Carbine), the newest member of the SCAR (SOF Combat Assault Rifle) family originally developed for the US ...