• Digital Battlespace

  Push for greater use of open source data, says senior British officer

  19th April 2024

  The huge amount of open source data available may not carry the weight of secret sources but it does carry substantial value, according to speakers at Defence IQ C4ISR Global conference in London.

• Land Warfare

  Canada joins the RBS 70 club

  16th February 2024

  The RBS 70 was developed in the 1970s to meet the Swedish Army’s requirement for a low-cost, easy-to-use MANPADS which could function in extreme climatic conditions. In 2011, Saab unveiled the RBS 70 Next Generation (NG), the first weapon of its type to employ laser beam-riding guidance.

• Land Warfare

  New application developed for Ragnarok 120mm mortar

  20th March 2024

  Rheinmetall Nordic’s Mortar Weapon System (MWS) 120 Ragnarok has been showcased with enhanced flexibility and firepower, having been integrated in multiple armoured vehicles and featuring a trailer-mounted version.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  First flights of Rattler Supersonic Target prove successful

  20th March 2024

  The US Department of Defense (DoD), along with QinetiQ, successfully conducted the first flights of the Rattler Supersonic Target MkI marking a significant advance in supersonic target technology.

• Land Warfare

  Israel readies itself for hypersonic missile threat from Houthis

  19th March 2024

  Reports that the Houthis have access to superfast missiles from Iran has set Israel on a path towards preparing to defend itself with two domestically manufactured air defence systems.

• Training

  ST Engineering Antycip launches new simulator programme

  13th March 2024

  The company has promised that its MyIG simulator programme will provide unmatched realism and adaptability for diverse training scenarios.

• Training

  Krauss-Maffei Wegmann to supply Leopard trainers for Sweden

  13th February 2024

  The Leopard 2 MBT has benefited from continuous development both to meet the requirements of the German Army and export customers. The Leopard 2A5, of which Sweden has 120, was the first model to feature arrowhead-shaped armour on the front of the turret.

• Naval Warfare

  Australia’s new frigate options: No easy choices as pressure mounts on DoD

  16th April 2024

  A new class of General Purpose ‘Tier 2’ frigate will replace the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN’s) Anzac-class frigates, but the selected design options appear to have major issues in terms of compatibility and availability for the future fleet.

• Land Warfare

  World Defense Show 2024: Alakran mobile mortar system to be made in Saudi Arabia

  8th February 2024

  NTGS has developed the Alakran 120mm mortar for customers requiring a highly mobile, lightweight self-propelled system to equip rapid reaction units. It is designed to be mounted without reinforcement on any light utility vehicle able to carry a 1,500kg payload.

• Land Warfare

  UK starts to move on Land Mobility Programme

  25th January 2024

  The UK, which has battled in its efforts to replace its Land Rover fleet along with a diverse range of other vehicles, will restart attempts to engage with industry before the end of the year.

• Training

  Babcock wins British Army armoured vehicle training deal

  7th February 2024

  Babcock has signed a contract to provide a range of training including driving, maintenance, gunnery, communications and information systems training to British Army fighting vehicle operators.

• Digital Battlespace

  DARPA awards AI contracts

  12th March 2024

  The US has been working to out how to use and defend against AI with DARPA alone outlining in 2008 ‘AI Next’ programme with US$2 billion committed to advance the science of AI.

• Air Warfare

  Diehl and Northrop collaborate on layered air defence system

  12th March 2024

  Diehl Defence and Northrop Grumman have joined forces to explore the potential synergy between their technologies, aiming to bolster European air defence capabilities.

• Land Warfare

  First Babcock-made Jackal 3 to roll out in March

  1st February 2024

  The High Mobility Transporter (HMT) range of vehicles, developed in the 1990s, has been available in 4x4 HMT 400, 6x6 HMT 600 and convertible Extenda configurations. Known as Jackal in UK service, a new substantially improved Jackal 3 has been unveiled.

• Land Warfare

  First two improved Turkish M60T tanks handed over

  16th February 2024

  The M60Ts, upgraded versions of the M60A3s, were delivered between 2007 and 2010. The latest upgrade followed a rolling programme of upgrades which have included Aselsan SARP RWS, Yamgoz situational awareness cameras, a TLUS laser warning receiver and a Pulat APS completed in 2020.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Loitering munitions

  Medium Range Precision Strike (MRPS) [UK]

  Programme Background Prior Information Notice (PIN) On 21 October 2024, the MoD published a PIN in collaboration with the Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S;). The notice ...

• Fighter - naval

  F-35C Carrier Variant (CV) Future Procurement

  US Navy has ordered 118 F-35C aircraft until FY2020, the remaining 121 fighters will be acquired at a rate of 21-28 per year between FY2021 ...

• 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 ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Land 121 Phase 4 (Hawkei PMV-L)

  Programme Background Three suppliers were originally down-selected to meet the Land 121 Phase 4 requirement: Thales Australia, General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) and Force Protection ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Land 400 Phase 3 (Amphibious Vehicles) [Australia]

  Programme Background The Australian DoD released the initial RfI for the Land 400 Phase 3 programme in November 2015. Following consultations with local industry, the ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Land 400 Phase 3 (Logistics, Ammunition Carrier and Mortar Carrier Variants) [Australia]

  Programme Background The Australian DoD released the initial RfI for the Land 400 Phase 3 programme in November 2015. Following consultations with local industry, the ...

• Tanks

  Main Battle Tank Upgrade [Australia]

  Programme Background Between 2006 and 2007, the Australian Army received 59 M1A1 AIM SA Abrams MBTs under Project Land 907 Phase 1. These vehicles were planned to ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Land Mobility Programme (Light Mobility Vehicle) [UK]

  This programme briefly introduces the wider Land Mobility Programme and then focuses on the Light Mobility Vehicle (LMV) programme. Information on the LPM and MPM can ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-47F Chinook-Saudi Arabia- Contracted

  The helicopters will increase the Royal Saudi Land Forces Aviation Command's interoperability with the US and advance the development of the country's heavy-lift helicopter capability.

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Project Land 400 Phase 3 [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirement: 2015 RfI The Land 400 Phase 3 programme will procure a new tracked IFV to replace the Australian Army's legacy fleet of ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  NH90 NFH-Germany - Awarded

  NH90 Sea Lions will take on a wide range of roles including search and rescue (SAR), maritime reconnaissance, special forces as well as personnel and ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-47F Chinook-Saudi Arabia

  In addition to this, the request includes M134D mini-Guns, aircraft survivability equipment, infrared signature suppression system, fast rope insertion extraction system, extended range fuel system, ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Land Mobility Programme (Light Protected Mobility) [UK]

  This programme briefly introduces the wider Land Mobility Programme and then focuses on the Light Protected Mobility (LPM) programme. Information on the LMV and MPM can ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  Project Land 2097 Phase 4 [Australia]

  Programme Background According to the RfI, under Project Land 2097 Phase 4, the selected helicopter must comprise a commercial or military off-the-shelf solution that is ...

• Landing craft and hovercraft

  Littoral Manoeuvre Vessel - Heavy (Project Land 8710 Phase 2) [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirements Under Project Land 8710 Phase 2, Australia is seeking to acquire an undisclosed number of Littoral Manoeuvre Vessels to replace the Balikpapan-class. The 2020 ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Trainer, Transport

  EMB-121 Xingu

  The EMB-121 Xingu is a twin-turboprop light transport and advanced multi-engine trainer aircraft developed by Embraer based on the EMB-110 Bandeirante. Its maiden flight was ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Hawkei

  Thales Australia developed the 4x4 Hawkei for the Australian Army's Land 121 Phase 4 Protected Mobility Vehicle – Light (PMV-L) project.  The prototype was unveiled in ...

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

  Aertos 121

  The Digital Aerolus Aertos 121 ducted-fan quadrotor UAV is an improved version of the Aertos 120 infrastructure inspection platform. It is designed as an asset for ...

• Towed mortars

  Soltam K6 120mm Lightweight Towed Mortar

  The Soltam K6 120mm Lightweight Towed Mortar has a maximum range of 7,200m using conventional unassisted bombs. The K6 was selected for US Army service ...

• Land Ops

  ESS Land Ops goggles provide eye protection and fog-resistance for ground troops and are authorised by the US Army for use over prescription eyewear. Land ...

• Land: air defence radar, Land: indirect fire location radar

  KRONOS Land

  KRONOS is a mobile multifunctional C-band radar system designed by Leonardo to support air and coastal defence tactical operations.  The system simultaneously performs surveillance, dedicated target ...

• Land: soldier modernisation systems - national programmes

  Land 125

  In 1994, Australia initiated Project Wundurra to develop an integrated soldier combat system, and by 2005 this had evolved into the multi-phase Land 125 programme ...

• Medium Range Missile Defence Systems: 20-90km range

  Land Ceptor

  MBDA Land Ceptor is a medium-to-long range ground-based air defence missile system based on the Common Anti-Air Modular Missile (CAMM) family of surface-to-air missiles developed ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Superav Land

  The Superav Land 8x8 is a modular vehicle with a large diameter turret ring that can be adjusted to fit a wide variety of remote-controlled ...

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

  ALADIN

  ALADIN is a miniature system consisting of a man-portable GCS and a hand-launched air vehicle with exchangeable sensor payloads.  The UAV, which can be operated ...

• Aertos 120

  The Digital Aerolus Aertos 120 is a light, ducted-fan UAV dedicated to safely conducted inspections in confined spaces such as buildings and tunnels. 

• Transport

  C-40 Clipper

  The USN began replacing its ageing fleet of 29 McDonnell Douglas C-9B Skytrain aircraft in 1997 with the C-40A Clipper, a military version of the ...

• Land: vehicle surveillance/target acquisition systems

  T-VIEW-Land

  The T-VIEW-Land is a lightweight EO/IR, gyro-stabilised sensor, installed on vehicles for day/night observation. It incorporates two cameras: a thermal imager and a colour charge-coupled ...

• Naval guns, Land: RWS

  Naval/Land Rogue

  The Land Rogue is an RWS developed by Reutech for installation on armoured vehicles. Capable of being armed with a 7.62mm machine gun, a 12.7mm ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  G-Wagon

  Mercedes-Benz G-Wagons are designed to meet specific military needs and have been in production since 1979. The vehicle comes in several variants, including 4x4 and 6x6 versions. ...