• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Phoenix is ready to rise, says NATO

  17th February 2021

  IOC represents a significant milestone towards improved ISR for the NATO alliance.

• Digital Battlespace

  E-3 Sentry fleet to undergo communications network upgrade

  2nd March 2021

  Boeing to complete work on 31 AWACS aircraft by May 2024.

• Land Warfare

  COVID-19 forces Lithuania to revisit Boxer/Vilkas

  16th March 2021

  The Lithuanian MND is seeking solutions in order to keep the Boxer/Vilkas programme on track. The Vice Minister of National Defence recently held a meeting with OCCAR, ARTEC and KMW to discuss potential solutions to overcome the economic effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

• Naval Warfare

  Planning turns to operational reality as Germany commits frigate to Indo-Pacific

  5th March 2021

  The German Navy frigate FGS Bayern is likely to be chosen to undertake the landmark deployment.

• Air Warfare

  The Sentinel is retiring. What’s next? (sponsored)

  29th March 2021

  The Sentinel R1 aircraft returns from its last operational flight from RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, Feb. 26, 2021. (Photo by RAF Sgt. Nicholas Howe/ UK MOD …

• Defence Notes

  V4 member states plan more joint procurement

  1st March 2021

  Just as they previously pooled their military resources into a common EU Battlegroup, the four Visegrad Group member states aim to expand on their maiden common procurement programme.

• Naval Warfare

  South American navy selects TLS

  3rd March 2021

  Torpedo Launcher System, which can be configured to fire any NATO-standard lightweight torpedo, will be included in a multi-ship programme.

• Digital Battlespace

  NATO requests AN/PRC-158 radios

  11th February 2021

  Proposed FMS for NATO Communications and Information Agency includes more than 500 radios.

• Defence Notes

  Czechs break new ground with export support agency

  8th March 2021

  The Czech Republic will be the first country in Central and Eastern Europe to operate an agency promoting national military exports at the government-to-government level.

• Air Warfare

  Polish F-35A infrastructure may need more attention as F-16 upgrade looms

  11th March 2021

  Further airbase upgrades may be needed to accommodate the F-35 in Poland, while plans are solidifying to enhance the country’s fleet of 48 F-16 aircraft.

• Land Warfare

  Russia targets 2023 for Sprut-SDM1 serial production

  2nd February 2021

  The Sprut-SDM1 programme appears to be making headway in Russia — but criticism remains.

• Training

  Spanish Army boosts armoured training

  15th February 2021

  Spain is enhancing its distributed network of armoured fighting vehicle simulators with the addition of 28 devices for the Pizarro IFV.

• Defence Notes

  New Slovak Defence Strategy sets out path to enhanced capabilities

  9th February 2021

  A new national defence strategy for Slovakia envisages that 20% of the annual defence budget will be spent on weapons and equipment procurement, with 2% also allocated to military R&D.

• Land Warfare

  Norway embarks on NASAMS upgrade

  15th February 2021

  Work will focus on improving the IFF capability on the Sentinel 3D radar.

• Digital Battlespace

  ICS showcases alternative BLoS communications

  17th February 2021

  NATO experiment under UK Serapis framework tests command-and-control robustness.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Tanks

  2S25 Sprut-SDM1

  Programme Background The Sprut-SDM1 is an upgraded version of the Sprut-SD, a mere 30 of which were produced for the VDV between 2006 and 2010 ...

• Destroyers

  Maya Class (27DDG) (1-2) [Japan]

  Programme Background The 27DD Maya class destroyers were previously known as the Improved Atago class because they are an addition to the existing two Atago-class destroyers that have entered service. ...

• AEW&C

  Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (1-6) [NATO]

  Programme Background NATO’s E-3A AWACS fleet is set to retire in 2035, after 50 years of service. To plan for the required follow-on capability, NATO's ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (1-6) [NATO]

  NATO is estimated to procure up to 18 AEW aircraft under the Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (AFSC) programme to replace the current E-3 Sentry fleet when ...

• Data links

  Data links | Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (1-6) [NATO]

  NATO is estimated to procure up to 18 AEW aircraft under the Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (AFSC) programme to replace the current E-3 Sentry fleet when ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (1-6) [NATO]

  NATO is estimated to procure up to 18 AEW aircraft under the Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (AFSC) programme to replace the current E-3 Sentry fleet when ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (1-6) [NATO]

  NATO is estimated to procure up to 18 AEW aircraft under the Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (AFSC) programme to replace the current E-3 Sentry fleet when ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) - (Greece)

  Programme Background EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) was announced in early 2022 and the project contract was awarded ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) - (Italy)

  Programme Background EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) was announced in early 2022 and the project contract was awarded ...

• Fighter - multirole

  MiG-35 (Russia)

  The MiG-35 is a new-generation derivative of the twin-engine MiG-29 (NATO code-name ‘Fulcrum’) featuring multi-role combat capabilities, significantly reworked airframe and a vastly expanded arsenal ...

• ISR/special mission

  EC-37B Compass Call [USAF]

  Programme Background Requirement The retirement of the EF-111A in 1990 left the USAF largely out of the operational and tactical level radar jamming business. Lockheed Martin ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Multirole Underwater Seabed Surveillance Ship (MU3S) [Italy]

  In June 2024, during a presentation provided at the NATO Maritime Security Centre of Excellence (MARSEC COE), the Italian Navy detailed the new capabilities it ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Multirole Underwater Seabed Surveillance Ship (MU3S) [Italy]

  In June 2024, during a presentation provided at the NATO Maritime Security Centre of Excellence (MARSEC COE), the Italian Navy detailed the new capabilities it ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Major networking projects

  Ballistic Missile Defence

  In early 2010, NATO acquired the first phase of an initial theatre ballistic missile defence capability to protect alliance forces. 

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  BMD-2

  Between 1,000 and 2,000 BMD-2 (Boevaya Mashina Desantnaya - Airborne Combat Vehicle) amphibious IFVs were produced for the Soviet Airborne Forces (VDV) by the Volgograd ...

• 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 ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  BMD-1

  The Volgograd Tractor Plant (now known as the Volgograd Machine-Building Company) developed the BMD-1 amphibious IFV specifically to meet the requirements of the Soviet Union's ...

• Long Range Missile Defence Systems: > 90km range

  Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System

  The Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) System, developed by the United States, provides advanced sea-based and land-based protection against ballistic missile threats.  Using the AN/SPY-1 ...

• Land: battle management systems

  BMD-Flex

  BMD-Flex is a modular C2 software system for integrated air and missile defence. Built on T-Core, BMD-Flex’s features and functions can be tailored, ranging from ...

• Land: manned turrets

  Bereg

  KBP developed the Bereg one-person turret (referred to as a ‘combat module’ in Russia) to provide an upgrade option for the Russian-designed BMD-series airborne IFV ...

• Land: manned turrets

  Bakhcha

  The Bakhcha is the latest version of the two-man turret originally developed for the BMP-3 tracked IFV, which entered Soviet Army service in 1987.  It ...

• Long Range Missile Defence Systems: > 90km range

  Aegis Ashore

  Aegis Ashore is the first operational land-based version of the Aegis Combat System originally developed by Lockheed Martin for the US Navy's Ballistic Missile Defence ...

• Cannons

  2A70

  The 2A70 is a 100mm cannon that has been designed to equip infantry fighting vehicles, including the BMP-3, BMP-3F and the BMD-4M.

• Major networking projects

  NATO DCIS

  Airbus is delivering the NATO Deployable Communication and Information System (DCIS). The project represents a major upgrade in the capability of NATO Response Forces (NRF) ...

• Land: RWS

  Qimek NATO

  Rheinmetall's RWS family includes the Qimek single-weapon RWS and the Nanuk dual-weapon RWS. The Qimek NATO combines full stabilisation, long-range day/night all-weather sights and a ...

• Land: RWS

  Nanuk NATO

  Rheinmetall's RWS family includes the Qimek single-weapon RWS and the Nanuk dual-weapon RWS, which was introduced in 2008. The Nanuk NATO combines full stabilisation, long-range ...

• Major networking projects

  NATO SATCOM

  Leonardo has been awarded a turnkey contract to rationalise and upgrade NATO’s SATCOM systems and associated infrastructure. The company will design, build, test, commission and ...

• 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. ...