• Naval Warfare

  UK and Australian defence deal agreed as BAE wins nuclear submarine contract

  21st March 2024

  Deal signed in Canberra will see Australia and the UK bolster their defence partnership via operational agreements, security consultancy and further deals for their primary defence firms.

• Naval Warfare

  Canadian Coast Guard awards pre-construction contract for MPVs

  28th March 2024

  The company received the Construction Engineering and Long Lead Items contract after having completed the Basic Design review for the vessels in late 2023.

• Naval Warfare

  New Spanish submarines to be fitted with Exail navigation system

  29th May 2024

  Spain’s S-80A or Isaac Peral-class SSKs are being built to replace the Spanish Navy’s existing Agosta 90B-class SSKs which were designed in the 1970s and built in the mid-1980s. The original S-80 programme has suffered considerable delays, with the first S-80s only entering service in late-2023.

• Training

  Australia’s exercise tempo increases as it looks east for national defence

  7th October 2024

  The Australian Government has focused heavily on the defence of its north-west coast, with plans to move its attack helicopters to the area, as well as base its maritime patrol assets in the region.

• Naval Warfare

  US Coast Guard eyes uncrewed and emerging tech to improve its effectiveness

  29th October 2024

  The service released its first Operational Posture Statement focusing on deploying cutting-edge capabilities.

• Naval Warfare

  Norway to massively increase defence budget by 2036

  5th April 2024

  Strengthening the Norwegian Navy has been laid out as the main investment in the new long-term plan, which will increase defence spending by almost US$60 billion (NOK600 billion) in the coming 12 years.

• Naval Warfare

  Netherlands selects Barracuda submarine as Australia looks on

  20th March 2024

  With the Netherlands selecting the Barracuda design for its new Orka-class submarines, it will give Australia a chance to see what it could have had after it cancelled its conventional submarine (SSK) project based on Barracuda, opting instead for a nuclear-powered submarine (SSN).

• Naval Warfare

  UK government defends nuclear submarine fleet after missile misfire

  21st February 2024

  The UK Royal Navy’s Vanguard-class of ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) provide the UK with its continuous-at-sea deterrent (CASD) coverage and have done so since 1994. The Vanguards will themselves be replaced by the new Dreadnought-class SSBNs from the 2030s.

• Naval Warfare

  Austal USA awarded $867 million for three hospital ships

  22nd December 2023

  The US Navy’s new Expeditionary Medical Ships (EMS) will be designated Bethesda Class EMS and first of class will be called USNS Bethesda.

• Naval Warfare

  Indonesia chooses French Naval Group to support building of two submarines

  2nd April 2024

  Indonesia has signed a contract with Naval Group to support the construction of two Scorpene Evolved Full LIB submarines via technology transfer.

• Air Warfare

  Greece goes ahead with Black Hawk order

  5th April 2024

  The Black Hawk helicopters will replace Greece's current fleet of multi-role helicopters.

• Defence Notes

  US Pentagon to reduce investments in main acquisition programmes over FY2025

  12th March 2024

  The DoD requested nearly US$850 billion to fund operations over the next fiscal year. Despite the amount being 1% higher than the FY2024 budget request, it has not covered the 3% inflation rate, which could impact the DoD’s main programmes in the medium and long term.

• Air Warfare

  Boeing upgrades Australian P-8A Poseidon MPAs

  15th April 2024

  The upgrade contract could be extended beyond 2030 to cater for the additional two new P-8A Poseidons the Royal Australian Air Force was set to receive in the coming years.

• Naval Warfare

  UK SMEs bid for Royal Navy warship work under new agreement

  22nd August 2024

  The MaST programme will open up non-combat supply chains to SME providers around the UK.

• Naval Warfare

  Turkish Navy looks to advance maritime power with 2024 fleet expansion

  22nd January 2024

  Turkish Navy has ambitious plans to expand and modernize its fleet with new warships, submarines, drones and missiles in 2024.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• AEW&C

  E-2D - USA

  The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye (AHE) is an all-weather, twin engine, carrier-based, Airborne Command, Control and Surveillance aircraft designed to extend task force defense perimeters. The ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Navajo Class (T-ATS)

  Programme Background Requirements The US Navy (USN) are replacing the ageing three remaining T-ATF 166 class tugboats and two remaining T-ARS 50 class ships with ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Future Vertical Lift Maritime Strike (FVL-MS) [USA]

  Programme Background Requirement The FVL-MS programme seeks to develop and acquire a family of systems, including crewed and uncrewed aircraft, to replace rotary life aircraft utilised ...

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

  Blackwing (Second Batch) [USA]

  Programme BackgroundFirst Batch The Blackwing originated from a 2013 initiative to develop a low-cost submarine-launched UAS for the US Navy. Following successful tests with the ...

• Submarines: nuclear, attack

  SSN(X) Programme [USN]

  Programme Background Requirements The CRS SSN(X) report states the USN is examining three broad design options for future submarines. One is based on the current ...

• Maritime patrol

  P-8 Poseidon [South Korea]

  Programme Background South Korea is facing an imminent submarine threat from North Korea. The Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) is operating an aging fleet of P-3C ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | AS Submarine Tenders [USN]

  The USN is in the process of procuring three new submarine tenders aimed to replace the ageing USS Memory S. Land and USS Frank Cable, ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | AS Submarine Tenders [USN]

  The USN is in the process of procuring three new submarine tenders aimed to replace the ageing USS Memory S. Land and USS Frank Cable, ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Buques de Acción Marítima de Intervención Subacuática (BAM-IS) [Spain]

  Programme Background Timeline On 5 November 2021, the Spanish MoD signed a contract for Navantia to build a new submarine rescue vessel at its Puerto ...

• Submarines nuclear, ballistic missile

  Columbia Class Submarine (3-12)

  Programme Background The Columbia class is being built to replace the aging Ohio class SSBN's in service with the US Navy. The Major Defense Acquisition Program (MDAP) ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance (MROS) Ship [UK]

  Programme Background Requirements The 2021 Defence Command Paper, Defence in a competitive age, outlined the plan to develop a new Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance (MROS) vessel ...

• Submarines nuclear, ballistic missile

  Columbia Class Submarine (SSBN 826 - 827) (1-2)

  Programme Background The Columbia class is being built to replace the ageing Ohio class SSBNs in service with the US Navy. The Major Defense Acquisition ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Special & Diving Operations-Submarine Rescue Ship (SDO-SURS) [Italy]

  Programme Background Requirements The programme aims to develop a new vessel capable of replacing the ageing Anteo that has reached the end of its life cycle with ...

• Maritime patrol

  P-3 Orion [Argentina]

  Programme Background Requirement Argentina has six P-3B aircraft, which have been facing availability problems for multiple years. In 2023, the country decided to procure secondhand ...

• Submarines: nuclear, attack

  Virginia Class Attack Submarine (SSN 792-SSN 811)

  Programme Background Timeline The US Navy’s Virginia-class submarines (SSN 774) are built by both General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB) and Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) under ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Submarines: conventional, attack

  Kronos

  At NAVDEX 2023, Highland Systems unveiled the Kronos submarine for the first time. According to the manufacturer, the submarine is suitable for commercial, rescue and military ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Poseidón - Buques de Acción Marítima de Intervención Subacuática (BAM-IS)

  The Buques de Acción Marítima de Intervención Subacuática (BAM-IS), Poseidon (A-21), is a submarine rescue vessel being built by Navatia. The ship will enter service ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Special & Diving Operations-Submarine Rescue Ship (SDO-SURS)

  The Special & Diving Operations-Submarine Rescue Ship (SDO-SURS) is a Submarine Rescue Ship set to join the Italian Navy by 2025. In June 2021, the Italian ...

• Rescue Baskets

  The Collapsible Rescue Basket combines compact storage capabilities of rescue nets with the ruggedness, rigidity and safety of solid-frame rescue baskets, claims the company. The ...

• Air: surveillance and maritime patrol radar

  Iguane

  The Iguane is a frequency agile, pulse compression maritime surveillance radar with search and rescue capability. Missions include anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, search and rescue, ...

• Gelibolu 1500

  Gelibolu 1500 is a lightweight, work-class ROV able to perform submarine rescue, deep-sea survey, seismic observation and sample collection. The system includes manipulator arms, lights ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Navajo Class

  The Navajo-class is the USN's new class of towing, salvage, and rescue ships to replace the current T-ATF 166 and T-ARS 50 class ships. This ...

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

  Blackwing

  Manufactured by AeroVironment and based on the Switchblade loitering munition, the Blackwing is a tube-launched UAV designed to deliver rapid ISR capabilities through its EO/IR ...

• Patrol boats

  Tapper Class

  Tapper (Type 80) patrol boats were ordered in the 1990s, the first seven in 1992 and five more in 1995, and were designed as small, ...

• Sea: optronic masts and periscopes

  OMS 200

  Airbus DS Optronics unveiled the OMS 200 at the September 2013 DSEI exhibition. It combines the capabilities of the OMS 110 with intelligent target acquisition ...

• Air: helicopter radar, Air: surveillance and maritime patrol radar

  ENR

  The NH90 NATO Frigate Helicopter is equipped with the European Navy Radar (ENR) developed by Thales in conjunction with Airbus and Leonardo. 

• Submarines: nuclear, attack

  Belgorod (Project 09852)

  Belgorod (Project 09852) is a special-purpose nuclear-powered submarine designed to launch the new Poseidon nuclear-armed UUV. Belgorod was originally meant to be an Oscar-II-class multi-purpose submarine, but ...

• ISR/special mission

  E-6B Mercury

  The E-6B Mercury is an airborne command post and communications relay for US nuclear forces, including submarine-launched ballistic missiles. The USN operates a fleet of ...

• Air: helicopter radar

  ORB 32 series

  The ORB 32 is a modular family of maritime surveillance and fire control radars intended for anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, exclusive economic zone protection and search and rescue ...

• Sea: tactical training

  Sub Command

  Sub Command was developed by Sonalysts, released in 2001, and published by Electronic Arts. Sub Command continues the legacy of 688(I) Hunter/Killer. The player takes ...