• Special Operations

  Efforts to enhance SOF lethality focus on six areas

  13th May 2020

  Speaking at this week’s virtual Special Operations Forces Industry Conference (vSOFIC), James Smith, Acquisition Executive for United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM),  highlighted six specific …

• Naval Warfare

  Hyundai delivers Polar-class logistics support ship

  12th June 2020

  Hyundai Heavy Industries has delivered the Polar-class fleet tanker/replenishment vessel HMNZS Aotearoa to the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF), following successful completion of sea trials. …

• Digital Battlespace

  SA Photonics awarded Blackjack payload contract

  10th June 2020

  SA Photonics on 9 June was awarded a $16.36 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the Blackjack Track A (payload) Phases 2 and 3 programmes. The contracting …

• Naval Warfare

  Germany bucks the European trend with ambitious frigate programmes

  24th June 2020

  Even before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, European navies were feeling the strain of procuring expensive platforms at the cost of fleet sizes. Ambitions to replace …

• Defence Notes

  PLA delivers medical supplies to armed forces of 20 countries

  10th June 2020

  At the request of China’s Central Military Commission (CMC), the People’s Liberation Army Air Force has delivered medical supplies including personal protective equipment and surgical …

• Defence Notes

  Stoltenberg launches NATO 2030 initiative

  9th June 2020

  NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg launched a new initiative on 8 June that aims to identify how the alliance should respond to growing threats over …

• Naval Warfare

  BlueComm chosen by Australia’s DST

  9th June 2020

  The Defence and Science Technology (DST) group within the Australian Department of Defence has selected Sonardyne’s BlueComm underwater communications system as part of its ongoing …

• Special Operations

  C-SOCC begins training to support NATO Response Force

  7th May 2020

  Despite the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, SOF elements from across the Composite Special Operations Component Command (C-SOCC) have initiated joint training as they build up …

• Air Warfare

  FCAS leads the next-generation combat aircraft market

  25th June 2020

  The development of sixth-generation combat aircraft is in its infancy, yet competition to supply prospective global requirements is already ramping up. Projects already initiated by …

• Special Operations

  SOF stresses lifecycle affordability for new low-cost UAS platform

  14th May 2020

  SOF planners in the US are exploring the possibilities of supplementing the current fleet of UAS with a commercial platform that may offer lower lifecycle …

• Training

  Finland acquires MASA SWORD

  10th June 2020

  Constructive training company MASA Group has signed what it terms a ‘major contract’ with the Finnish Defence Forces (FDF) for its SWORD C2 training system, …

• Naval Warfare

  NAO report issues warning on UK carrier strike capability

  26th June 2020

  The implications of building and sustaining the UK’s two aircraft carriers continue to loom large for the RN, with the latest report issued by the …

• Special Operations

  SOF seeks integration help to counter unmanned aircraft

  8th May 2020

  US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) is seeking industry white papers for its C-UAS Systems Integration Partner (CUxS SIP) requirement. In an RfI published on 17 April, USSOCOM …

• Training

  NZDF changes Southern Katipo 20 training exercise plans

  1st June 2020

  The New Zealand Defence Forces (NZDF) confirmed on 29 May that its Southern Katipo 20 training exercise has been scaled back as a result of …

• Special Operations

  Dutch lift lid on Takuba plans

  7th May 2020

  The Netherlands’ Special Operations Command (NLD SOCOM) has disclosed to Shephard its planned contribution to Task Force Takuba - a European Combined Joint Special Operations …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Special operations vehicles

  LTTV

  Programme Background The LTTV is to equip the combat support and combat service support elements of the Belgian SOF and the Belgian Army's two Ranger ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  NH90 Special Forces (France)

  Programme Background In French service, advanced H225M Caracals with aerial refuelling capabilities are used by SOF units of the French Air Force (FAF) and French ...

• Special operations vehicles

  Pegaz Special Operations Vehicles

  Programme BackgroundRequirementThe Polish MoD has a long-standing requirement to procure a new 4x4 tactical vehicle to replace the M1165A1 HMMWVs and Oshkosh M-ATVs currently in ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4, Special operations vehicles

  SOF Vehicles (Bulgaria)

  Programme Background The Bulgarian MoD is investing in the modernisation of the Bulgarian Armed Forces by procuring new equipment for all of its branches, including ...

• Special operations vehicles

  Zmag SOF Vehicle (Israel)

  Programme Background Originally designed by and marketed by Ido Cohen, the Zmag is part of a family of ATVs aimed at both civilian and military customers. In ...

• Special operations vehicles

  Zmag SOF Vehicle (Israel - Options)

  Programme Background Originally designed by and marketed by Ido Cohen, the Zmag is part of a family of ATVs aimed at both civilian and military customers. In ...

• Special operations vehicles

  SOV-Cdo Replacement (Australia)

  Programme Background The Australian MoD plans to invest in new equipment for its SOF units to allow the ADF to respond more effectively and more ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  RQ-4 Global Hawk (South Korea)

  Programme Background Requirments Seoul required UAS assets to help monitor its neighbour to the north and, increasingly, Chinese activities in waters and in the air near ...

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

  Teal 2 (Customs and Border Protection Force) [US]

  Programme Background First Order Global News Wire reported that Red Cat had filled an order for 54 Teal 2 units from the US Customs and ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  RQ-4 Global Hawk (Japan)

  Programme Background Selection & Contract AwardIn 2015, Northrop Grumman's RQ-4 Global Hawk UAS and E-2D Advanced Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft were selected by Japan to ...

• ISR/special mission

  Pegasus SIGINT Aircraft (1-3) [Germany]

  Programme Background Requirement The Pegasus (Persistent German Airborne Surveillance System) project aims to fulfil a SIGINT capability which has been missing in the German Armed ...

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

  FlyEye (December 2018) [Poland]

  Programme Background December 2018 Contract Before receiving a contract to supply Poland's Territorial Defence Force with FlyEye systems, WB Group had previously supplied earlier versions ...

• Special operations vehicles

  Neton VLOE - (Spain - Navy)

  Programme Background Information regarding the Spanish Navy's procurement of the Einsa Neton remains limited, however, it is likely that decisions to procure the platform arose from ...

• Special operations vehicles

  VMOE

  Programme Background The Spanish Army's SOF units are procuring the VMOE to meet their requirements for an SOV with sufficient firepower, mobility and mine-protection to ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Pegasus SIGINT Aircraft (Follow-On) [Germany]

  In 2021, Germany awarded a contract to Hensoldt for the Kalaetron integrated SIGINT system to be installed on three Bombardier Global 6000 aircraft, forming the Persistent ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Thunder TM-1025

  The SOF Thunder comprises one variant in a wider family of TM-1025 RIBs currently in service with the Polish armed forces. The SOF Thunder is ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  ZH-753

  The Zodiac Hurricane 753 OB SAR is typically used as a shore-based boat operating independently in SAR, counterterrorism and law enforcement missions. The deep-V fibreglass ...

• Special operations vehicles

  VOS-APP

  The Arquus VOS-APP is a 6x6 support vehicle currently under trial with the French SOF. Acting as a replacement for the 1970s-vintage ACMAT VLRA, the VOS-APP is the ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Ares 35 Harpoon

  The Ares 35 Harpoon has been designed for interception & interdiction operations, as well as anti-smuggling, SOF insertion and extraction, surveillance and patrolling missions.

• Data links

  GSNC

  Global Secure Network Connection (GSNC) provides a global data communications solution for military aircraft, including bomber, refuelling and transport aircraft. The GSNC system uses Iridium ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Ares 55 Harpoon

  The Ares 55 Harpoon is a fast interceptor craft by Ares Shipyard for interception & interdiction operations, as well as anti-smuggling, SOF insertion and extraction, ...

• Swimmer delivery vehicles

  Shallow Water Combat Submersible (SWCS)​

  The USN has contracted Teledyne Brown to develop the Shallow Water Combat Submersible (SWCS) as part of a wider effort to develop new underwater transports for ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Ares 65 Harpoon

  The Ares 65 Harpoon is a fast interceptor craft by Ares Shipyard for interception & interdiction operations, as well as anti-smuggling, SOF insertion and extraction, surveillance and ...

• 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 ...

• EO/IR systems

  Stormcaster-DX

  The Teledyne FLIR StormCaster-DX is a multi-role, low-SWaP laser target designator (LTD) payload designed to affect the STANAG-compliant terminal guidance of laser-guided munitions.  The StormCaster-DX ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  GAT-5530 Global Aero Terminal

  The Viasat Global Aero Terminal 5530 is a second-generation hybrid Ka- and Ku-band SATCOM terminal that enables global broadband connectivity services for commercial and government ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  Global Observer

  The AeroVironment Global Observer HALE UAV was a developmental HALE UAV designed for various civil, commercial and government applications.  Development of the platform began in 2007 ...

• Global HET

  Built to haul payloads of up to 72.6t, the Oshkosh Global Heavy Equipment Transporter (HET) is a mover for some of the heaviest military equipment. ...

• Subsystems: software

  Global Teach

  Global Teach training management systems provide support for educational processes. Inovex’s military-adapted training management system oversees training processes from planning to controlling, independently from the ...

• AEW&C

  Global 6500 AEW&C

  Developed by L3Harris Technologies and Israel Aerospace Industries’ ELTA Systems Group (ELTA), the Global 6500 AEW&C; consists of a conformal airborne early warning (CAEW) mission ...