• Digital Battlespace

  First Royal Air Force Wedgetail aircraft fitted with MESA surveillance sensor

  7th November 2022

  The first of three Boeing E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft for the Royal Air Force (RAF) has been fitted with its Northrop Grumman MESA main sensor.

• Naval Warfare

  Royal Danish Navy poised for possible investments worth up to $5.5 billion

  24th August 2022

  Denmark could invest over $5 billion in its navy and build new ships locally as the country establishes a new partnership to investigate and recommend steps to support indigenous shipbuilding capacity.

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2022: Hadean, British Army to showcase CTTP pathfinder progress

  21st November 2022

  The pathfinder agreement between the British Army and Hadean sought to transfer large portions of land-based physical training into a single synthetic environment. If the progress achieved is significant, this could be a big victory for distributed computing technologies in the defence sector.

• Defence Notes

  How new Portuguese defence doctrine will impact future procurement

  27th November 2022

  The Portuguese MoD is working on updated versions of its National Defence Strategic Concept and Military Programming Law. The new documents will define the country’s priorities and shape future acquisition and modernisation programmes.

• Naval Warfare

  Maritime first is the right defence posture for the UK

  22nd September 2022

  The RN seemed the apparent winner when the Integrated Review was first published. Despite the war in Ukraine reminding the West of the importance of solid land and air capabilities, a maritime or navy-first defence posture is still the best option for the UK.

• Naval Warfare

  Bangladesh Navy loads up with new landing craft

  1st December 2022

  Bangladeshi shipbuilding is being kept relatively busy with naval projects such as multiple landing craft and patrol boats, plus a new submarine base is under construction.

• Land Warfare

  Russia claims combat debut in Ukraine for Koalitsiya SPH

  21st July 2022

  Russian forces have reportedly employed the Koalitsiya SPH in Ukraine. If true, this marks the first combat use of the most modern and sophisticated artillery system in Moscow’s arsenal.

• Land Warfare

  Netherlands seeks Patriot GEM-T missiles from US

  22nd July 2022

  The US State Department has cleared a potential $1.22 billion deal to export Patriot GEM-T interceptor missiles to the Netherlands.

• Air Warfare

  India looks closer to home to upgrade Su-30MKI fleet

  19th October 2022

  With Russia under sanctions because of its warlike ways, India must find an alternative solution to upgrade its Su-30 fighters.

• Training

  US awards helicopter training contracts for domestic and international programmes

  4th November 2022

  The US Navy has awarded contracts for training equipment to support the USMC's CH-53K programme and the Czech Republic's UH-1Y and AH-1Z fleets.

• Defence Notes

  Is the industrial base strong enough to fulfil the 2022 US National Defense Strategy?

  1st November 2022

  The document outlines the challenges the country expects to face in the next decade, putting emphasis on the Indo-Pacific and considering China the ‘most comprehensive and serious challenge’ to the US.

• Defence Helicopter

  MSPO 2022: Poland surprises with size of Apache request

  12th September 2022

  Poland aims to order three times as many AH-64E attack helicopters as previously expected.

• Land Warfare

  NP Aerospace operates ‘around the clock’ to provide Ukraine with body armour

  16th August 2022

  UK company NP Aerospace manufactured and delivered more than 20,000 sets of body armour plates and carrier vests to Ukraine in the last three months.

• Land Warfare

  China displays a bewildering array of air defence systems at Zhuhai

  24th November 2022

  There is no let-up in the continuous stream of advanced air defence systems rolling out from Chinese companies and state-owned factories.

• Land Warfare

  Russian ground platform losses approach 10,000, Ukrainian MoD claims

  29th July 2022

  The Ukrainian MoD released a list of Russian military systems destroyed to date. It includes 1,742 MBTs, 3,979 combat vehicles, 894 artillery systems, 258 multiple launch rocket systems and 2,854 land vehicles and fuel tankers.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Loitering munitions

  Switchblade 600 (Ukraine Aid) [US]

  Programme Background $300 Million USAI (1 April 2022) On 1 April 2022, the US DoD announced a $300 million military aid package for Ukraine following ...

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

  Golden Eagle (NATO Member)

  Programme Background2022 Russian Invasion of UkraineFollowing Russia's invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the usage and effectiveness of micro and mini UAV platforms in the ...

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

  Drone40 (Ukraine Aid) [Australia]

  Programme Background In August 2022, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), a think tank, held a podcast with Ukraine's ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, in which ...

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

  SkyRanger R70 (Ukraine Aid) [Canada]

  Programme Background On 19 February 2024, the Canadian Defence Minister, Bill Blair, announced that the country would donate more than 800 SkyRanger R70 UAVs to ...

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

  RQ-35 Heidrun (Ukraine Aid) [Germany]

  Programme Background Delivered Units On 19 April 2022, Oryx reported that Denmark had given Ukraine 25 Sky-Watch's Heidrun mini-UAV units as aid following Russia's invasion ...

• Tanks

  Leopard 2A8 [Croatia]

  Programme Background Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Croatia becomes the latest in a string of Eastern/Central European countries to bolster its ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  Heavy Lift Helicopter [Philippines]

  Programme Background Procurement from Russia In November 2021, Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana confirmed that a contract had been signed to acquire 16 Mi-171 heavy ...

• Military UAS - micro

  Drones (Ukraine Aid) [Australia]

  Programme Background In April 2024, while in Lviv, Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles announced a new AU$100 million military assistance package for Ukraine. This reaffirms ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Bayraktar TB2 (Aid & Discounted Units) [Ukraine]

  Programme Background Pre Invasion Units The Ukrainian Army purchased 12 TB2 units in January 2019 for a reported $69 million. Deliveries began in June 2019, ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Bayraktar TB2 (Pre-War) [Ukraine Navy]

  Programme Background Ukrainian Army The Ukraine Army purchased 12 TB2 units in January 2019 for a reported $69 million.  Contract According to Ukrainian Navy Commander ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Next Generation Fighter Aircraft (Vietnam)

  Programme Background Requirement The Vietnam People's Air Force (VPAF) operates an ageing fleet of Su-22 aircraft as well as Su-27s and Su-30s. According to expert commentary, ...

• Loitering munitions

  Switchblade 300 (Ukraine Aid) [US]

  Programme Background Presidential Drawdown (16 March 2022 & 13 April 2022) On 16 March 2022, President Biden announced $800 million in security assistance to Ukraine through ...

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Phoenix Ghost (Ukraine Aid) [US]

  Programme Background Presidential Drawdown (21 April 2022) Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, on 21 April 2022, President Biden announced an $800 ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Bayraktar TB2 [Latvia]

  Programme Background Factory Visit On 7 June 2021, Baykar's official Twitter account announced that the Latvian Minister of Defence, Artis Pabrikis, had visited the Baykar ...

• Frigates

  Admiral Gorshkov Class (Project 22350) (1 - 8)

  Programme Background The Admiral Gorshkov-class is to consist of between 15 to 20 stealth frigates being built the Severnaya Verf shipyard in St. Petersburg for ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

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

  Shark

  The Shark is a fixed-wing catapult launched ISR UAV developed by Ukrspecsystems.  The platform's development began following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and within ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  Il-78M

  Based on the Il-76 transport, the Il-78 convertible tanker/transport aircraft first entered service in 1974 and was followed three years later by the improved Il-78M ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Bayraktar TB2

  The Bayraktar TB2, or Bayraktar-2, is a medium-altitude long-endurance UAV developed and manufactured by Baykar. The platform can conduct ISR and armed attack missions and has a ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Orion / Orion-E

  The Orion, sometimes called the Inokhodets, is the first Russian-manufactured MALE UAV that has been designed to carry out a wide variety of military surveillance applications. Russia has ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  BMP-1

  The BMP-1 (Bronevaya Maschina Piekhota-1) is a tracked amphibious IFV that was developed in the Soviet Union during the 1960s.  Entering service with the Soviet ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4

  KamAZ-43269 Vystrel

  The KamAZ-43269 Vystrel (originally known as the BPM-97) is a 4x4 armoured vehicle based on the proven KamAZ-4326 4x4 military truck chassis. Although development started in ...

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

  Eleron-3 (Series)

  The Eleron series comprises several variants, including Eleron-3 (T23E), Eleron-3SV, Eleron-B, Eleron-10 (T10D and 10E) and Eleron-10SV (T10). The Russian Armed Forces use Eleron-3 aircraft ...

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

  Orlan-10/10E

  Developed by the Russia-based Special Technology Center, the Orlan-10 is a medium-range UAS with many variants, such as the 10E, an export version introduced in 2017. The ...

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

  Mavic 3 (Series)

  The Mavic 3 is a rotary-wing UAV manufactured by DJI designed for commercial aerial photography and video capture. It has a Hasselblad L2D-20c two-camera payload, omnidirectional obstacle sensing, and ...

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Gerbera

  The Gerbera is a rudimentary Russian UAV manufactured by Gastello Design Bureau.  The drone's body is made of radar-absorbent foam, and the platform is reportedly available ...

• Tanks

  BMPT

  UVZ developed the BMPT Fire Support Combat Vehicle, nicknamed Terminator by the company, after studying the Russian Army's performance during the Chechen War. Designed to ...

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

  Spectator M/M1

  The Spectator is a Ukrainian UAV series jointly developed by OJSC Meridian, a subsidiary of Ukroboronprom, and the National Technical University of Ukraine (KPI). The Spectator M1 is the ...

• Loitering munitions

  KYB

  The KYB, or Kub, is a loitering munition manufactured by the  Zala Aero Group.  The platform features a flying-wing design with a pusher propeller. It is designed to deliver ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  BTR-70

  The BTR-70 is an amphibious 8x8 armoured personnel carrier originally developed for the Soviet Union's armed forces. Produced in the Soviet Union from 1972 until ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Sukhoi S-70

  The Okhotnik-B, or the Sukhoi S-70, is an advanced UCAV. Sukhoi Design Bureau developed the Russian aircraft. In 2021, the Russian MoD stated the drone was to operate ...