Defence Notes

US looks to develop low-yield nuclear weapons

18th January 2018

The US military wants to overhaul its atomic arsenal and develop a new type of low-yield weapon that experts worry could lead to greater proliferation …

Special Operations

New Zealand receives Supacat vehicles

17th January 2018

Supacat's fleet of Special Operations Vehicles-Mobility Heavy (SOV-MH) has been accepted by the New Zealand Ministry of Defence, the company announced on 16 January. The …

Defence Helicopter

Ten dead in Colombia military helicopter crash

16th January 2018

Ten people were killed when a military helicopter crashed in a remote area of northwestern Colombia on 16 January, the military said. The Russian-made MI-17 …

Defence Notes

Norway's wealth fund excludes nine groups from portfolio

16th January 2018

Norway's $1 trillion sovereign wealth fund, the world's largest, has excluded nine groups, including the UK's military equipment maker BAE Systems, from its portfolio based …

Defence Helicopter

US Army realigns AH-64E Apache FOTE

12th January 2018

The US Army is realigning its Follow-On Test and Evaluation (FOTE) of technology insertions for the AH-64E Apache helicopter, the army announced on 9 January. …

Training

PZL to modernise 130 Orlik TC-I trainers

27th December 2017

PZL Warszawa-Okęcie has received a contract to upgrade the Polish Air Force’s PZL 130 Orlik TC-I trainer aircraft fleet to the latest standard, Airbus announced …

Land Warfare

Laser Centrum contracted for Swedish Mjölner

21st December 2017

BAE Systems has signed a contract with Czech company Laser Centrum to manufacture mechanical components for the Swedish Army’s Mjölner mortar system, the company announced …

Submarines nuclear, ballistic missile

Dreadnought Class (Successor Programme)

Programme Background Requirements The Dreadnought-class, prior to being named in October 2016, was known as the Successor programme, which was approved by the government in May ...

Minehunters

Mine Sweeping Hunter II (MSH-II) [South Korea]

Programme Background Requirements Under the Mine Sweeping Hunter II (MSH-II) programme, South Korea is seeking a replacement for the Ganggyeong-class minehunters, which are due to leave service ...

Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

PKX-B Batch II (9-22) [South Korea]

Programme Background Contracts Award On 24 November 2022, HJ Heavy Industries was awarded a contract worth KRW212 billion ($160 million) to build four PKX-B Batch-II ...

Submarines: conventional, attack

KSS-III (Boats 4-6) [South Korea]

Programme Background Timeline In March 2019, the construction of the first KSS-III Batch II was approved. On 30 March 2023, Hanwha Ocean laid the keel of ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

Puma 2 AE (Estonia)

Programme Background The US DoD announced that it had awarded AeroVironment an $8.868 million firm-fixed-price contract to supply an undisclosed number of RQ-20B Puma AE ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

Wing Loong II [Nigeria]

Programme Background First Order On 5 November 2020, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Chief, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, stated that the force was set to ...

Tanks

Arjun Mark-II

Programme Background While original plans envisioned the production of up to 250 Arjun Mk IIs, the programme's many delays have prompted the Indian Army to ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

Wing Loong II (Pakistan)

Programme Background Negotiations On 6 October 2018, the Pakistani Air Force (PAF) announced it would acquire 48 Wing Loong II UAVs in a social media post. ...

Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

PKX-B Batch II (5-8) [South Korea]

Programme Background Contracts Award On 24 November 2022, HJ Heavy Industries was awarded a contract worth KRW 212 billion ($160 million) to build four PKX-B ...

APCs/IFVs - 8x8

Cloud Leopard II 8x8 [Taiwan]

Programme Background The Cloud Leopard II will offer greater strategic mobility, as well as enhanced protection and lethality, than the legacy tracked and wheeled vehicles ...

Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

San Antonio LPD 17 Flight II [USN]

Programme Background Requirements The LPD 17 Flight II programme will fully and functionally replace the ageing LSD-41 class and LSD-49 class ships for embarking, transporting, ...

Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

PKX-B Batch II (1-4) [South Korea]

Programme Background Contracts Award On 24 November 2022, HJ Heavy Industries was awarded a contract worth KRW212 billion ($160 million) to build four PKX-B Batch-II fast attack ...

Submarines: conventional, attack

KSS-III (Boats 7-9) [South Korea]

Programme Background Timeline The new KSS-III Dosan Ahn Chang-Ho-class submarines for the Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN) are a significant advance on the earlier KSS-II and ...

Trainer

T-6C [Thailand]

Programme Background The contract is for 12 Beechcraft T-6C Texan II advanced military training aircraft, ground-based training systems for pilots and maintenance professionals, a mission ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

Wing Loong II (Morocco)

Programme Background OkDiario Report On 2 October 2022, the Spanish newspaper OkDiario reported, quoting "Spanish military intelligence", that Morocco had acquired an unknown quantity of ...

Surface-to-air missiles

UGM-133 Trident II

The UGM-133 Trident II, or Trident-D5, is a submarine-launched ballistic missile. It is designed to launch nuclear payloads and is a cornerstone of America's deterrence ...

Submarines nuclear, ballistic missile

Vanguard Class

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 ...

Submarines nuclear, ballistic missile

Ohio Class

The US Navy’s (USN’s) Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines (SSBN’s) – known as the SSBN 726-class – provide the US with its sea-based nuclear deterrent. It ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

Trident TL

The Trident TL is a low-cost, foldable, ground- or air-launched UAS. Designed for commercial and federal agency use, this system uses autonomous navigation for launch, ...

Submarines nuclear, ballistic missile

Columbia Class

The USN’s new Columbia-class SSBN, also known as the SSBN 826-class, is planned to replace the existing Ohio-class boats as the cornerstone of the US ...

Uncrewed aerial systems engines

Trident 140TD2

The Trident 140TD2 is a compression-ignition engine designed for MALE platforms. Based on the Trident 100TD2, it is a lightweight, four-cylinder design that is intended ...

Sea: optronic masts and periscopes

Type 8 Mod 3

The Type 8 Mod 3 is an updated version of the Type 8-series periscopes. The Type 8B/J Mod 3 provides extremely high-frequency low-data-rate communications capability ...

Uncrewed aerial systems engines

Trident 180TD2

The Trident 180TD2 is a compression-ignition engine designed for heavier UAVs up to the 2t class. The design is intended to improve efficiency, while being ...

Guided munitions

Ninja

The Ninja is a free-fall guided munition from Astra Systems. It can be launched from manned or uncrewed platforms and uses GPS-INS guidance when airborne.  Several warhead ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing

EX-3M Trident

The EX-3M Trident is an open-architecture, high-speed, developmental fixed-wing UAV. Manufactured by Exosonic, the UAV commenced flight trials of a demonstrator in May 2023, with the actual drone conducting its ...

Infrastructure - shelters/accommodation

EFASS 20.4m Hangar

The 20.4m hangar was the first of the Expeditionary Forces Aircraft Shelter System (EFASS) range of soft-walled temporary buildings to be designed to meet the ...

Loitering munitions

Spear

The Spear is a loitering munition manufactured by Astra Systems. It is designed for air-to-ground and ground-to-ground attack operations. The system uses electric propulsion, giving it ...

Uncrewed aerial systems engines

Trident 100TD2

The Trident 100TD2 is a compression-ignition engine that is capable of operating on various types of heavy fuel. It is claimed to offer up to ...

Submarines nuclear, ballistic missile

Dreadnought Class

The UK is building four new Dreadnought-class SSBNs for the Royal Navy that will take over the nuclear deterrent role from the existing four Vanguard-class submarines. ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

BE-45

The BE-45 is a multi-mission fixed-wing UAV from Astra Systems. It is a dual-engined platform that can operate with little to no available infrastructure. It is ...