• Defence Notes

  French seek urgent reinforcement for air defence umbrella

  29th June 2022

  France needs a new interim addition to its air defence arsenal, particularly as the Crotale NG SHORAD missile is due for retirement by 2025 — could VL MICA fit the bill?

• Land Warfare

  US sends HIMARS to Ukraine

  2nd June 2022

  HIMARS rocket systems highlight the latest package of military support that the US will dispatch to Ukraine.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AeroVironment calls on US Army to scrap FTUAS Increment 2

  18th May 2022

  A leading competitor involved in the US Army's Future Tactical Unmanned Aerial System (FTUAS) programme wants to see a forthcoming phase in the project axed.

• Land Warfare

  Eurosatory 2022: Texelis bridges the old and the new with Serval chassis

  15th June 2022

  Hybridisation and electric-drive technologies come to the fore at Eurosatory 2022 with the MR400 Mobility Solution from Texelis.

• Land Warfare

  Indian Army seeks hundreds of protected mobility vehicles

  17th May 2022

  The Indian Army is on the hunt for 1,200 new protected mobility vehicles, with two different specifications being sought.

• Land Warfare

  US Army orders more howitzers and ammo carriers

  13th May 2022

  BAE Systems is to produce additional M109A7 self-propelled howitzers and M992A3 tracked carrier ammunition vehicles for the US Army.

• Training

  Rheinmetall to announce LVCTS team

  27th June 2022

  A new land vehicle training system for the Canadian Army will transfer a substantial amount of individual and collective live training to simulations. Once the LVCTS is fully operational, it will serve as the flagship interface for CA’s future live, virtual and constructive training environment.

• Naval Warfare

  India extends defence support to Vietnam

  20th June 2022

  Closer Indian and Vietnam strategic ties were underscored by the handover of a dozen Indian-designed interceptor boats to the Vietnam Border Guard.

• Land Warfare

  Eurosatory 2022: Arquus introduces new Sherpa variant

  13th June 2022

  Sherpa A2M is a mortar platform that features a Thales 120mm rifled mortar barrel and NTGS Mobile Mortar System. At the Eurosatory event, Arquus is also exhibiting a Scarabée reconnaissance vehicle with new features.

• Defence Helicopter

  First NH90 TTH of the year arrives for French Army

  13th May 2022

  A total of eight NH90 TTH transport helicopters are expected to be delivered to the French Army in 2022.

• Land Warfare

  Poland seeks 500 HIMARS launchers

  26th May 2022

  Poland is requesting 500 HIMARS launchers to boost its precision-strike artillery capabilities.

• Land Warfare

  Eurosatory 2022: Textron M5 now available on the international market

  13th June 2022

  The M5 has seen success in the US Army's Robotic Combat Vehicle – Medium (RCV-M) programme, and the company has delivered five vehicles to the US Army.

• Land Warfare

  Eurosatory 2022: Optionally crewed Sabrah turret goes on show

  14th June 2022

  Elbit Systems says the optionally crewed variant of its Sabrah turret, as seen at Eurosatory 2022, combines firepower with improved situational awareness, enhanced protection and high manoeuvrability.

• Land Warfare

  Poland and Saudi Arabia to receive technical support for M1A2 Abrams

  18th May 2022

  The oldest and newest FMS customers for the M1A2 Abrams MBT will receive technical support from General Dynamics Land Systems.

• Land Warfare

  US Army plans deeper experiments with cutting-edge systems in FY2023

  12th May 2022

  The US Army is looking to deepen its experimentation with cutting-edge and innovative solutions by allocating $35 billion for this purpose in its FY2023 budget request and $90.8 million for Project Convergence 22.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4

  Titan-B

  Programme Background Colombia is understood to have a requirement for as many as 100 APCs capable of carrying up to 20 troops and protecting their ...

• Military UAS - small

  Small UAV (Colombia)

  Programme Background Many of the Colombian military's UAVs are operated by the Colombian Air Force, but the Colombian Army has also employed several different types ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4

  Titan-C

  Programme Background Colombia is understood to have a requirement for as many as 100 APCs capable of carrying up to 20 troops and protecting their ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Colombia M113A3

  Programme Background The Colombian Army currently operates 54 M113A1 and M113A2 APCs, which are divided among two mechanised infantry battalions and a training school. Known ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4

  Surplus M1117 Guardian ASV (Colombia)

  Programme Background The Colombian Army has requested surplus M1117s to assist with counter-insurgency and counter-narcotics operations. Due to a lack of armoured vehicles suitable for ...

• Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles

  PETEF - Light Tactical Vehicles

  The Colombian MoD has not outlined how many new patrol vehicles will be needed to equip all seven of the light cavalry groups, nor how ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4

  Secure Personnel Transport Vehicle (Colombia - Forecast)

  Programme Background Colombia is understood to have a requirement for as many as 100 APCs capable of carrying up to 20 troops and protecting their ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  PETEF - LAV III (Colombia)

  Programme Background Since the replacement of the M113 is understood to be a priority for the Colombian Army, it is anticipated that a contract could ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4

  Secure Personnel Transport Vehicle (Colombia - Announced)

  Programme Background Colombia is understood to have a requirement for as many as 100 APCs capable of carrying up to 20 troops and protecting their ...

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

  Coelum (Colombia)

  Programme Background Testing Colombian Aeronautical Industry Cooperation (CIAC) was working on a project called Dron Coelum X-001. In late 2020, the CIAC tested a redesigned prototype of the ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  PETEF - Tracked IFV

  Since a programme to procure a tracked IFV has yet to be launched by the Colombian Army, it is unclear how many tracked IFVs could ...

• Tanks

  PETEF - MBT

  The Colombian Army has evaluated several offers for MBT platforms in the past, though none of these have progressed to the formal contract stage. For ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Kfir Replacement (Colombia)

  Programme Background In May 2021, budget constraints prompted new Colombian finance minister José Manuel Restrepo (in post since 3 May) to place on indefinite hold ...

• Frigates

  Plataforma Estratégica de Superficie (PES) - Frigate Acquisition Programme [Colombia]

  Programme Background The replacement of the existing ageing Almirante Padilla-class frigates was first initiated in 2015. The predecessors, built by Germany's Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) have been in service ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Type 206/209 Replacement (PLOTEOS) [Colombia]

  The 2042 "Plan de Desarrollo Naval" (Naval Development Plan) outlines the intention to procure four new SSKs for the Colombian Navy. Saab, Navantia and Naval ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4

  Titan

  Blindex developed the Titan series of APCs to provide the Colombian Army with an affordable means of transporting large numbers of troops for internal security ...

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

  Quimbaya X-003

  The Quimbaya X-003 is a Colombian fixed-wing UAV designed and developed by the Colombian Aeronautical Industry Corporation (CIAC). Reportedly, following evaluation tests in late 2023, ...

• Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles

  M1117 Guardian ASV

  In December 1995, the US Army selected a design based on the Textron ASV 150 to provide the military police with a vehicle that combined ...

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

  Coelum

  Manufactured by Corporación de la Industria Aeronáutica Colombiana (CIAC), the Coelum is a mini UAV that is fitted with a 40x zoom EO/IR camera payload for ISR missions.  The ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  PRC-710

  The PRC-710 is a VHF/FM voice and data handheld radio with COMSEC and ECCM capabilities. Designed in response to emerging combat requirements, the PRC-710 is ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  LPR 40 MKII

  The LPR acts as a command boat for the group of tactical riverine combat boats operated by the Colombian Marine Corps. It is equipped with ...

• EO/IR systems, Sea: optronic masts and periscopes

  SERO 250

  The SERO 250 is a compact submarine periscope that can be installed in both new-build and upgraded boats. Little or no structural modifications are required ...

• Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles

  SCTV

  The Survivable Combat Tactical Vehicle (SCTV), developed by Textron Marine & Land Systems and Granite Tactical Vehicles, is an upgrade solution for the AM General ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  Airmor

  Airmor is an autonomous modular countermeasure SPS designed for helicopters and transport aircraft. Airmor’s core components are IMI’s management control unit (MCU), which processes information ...

• OPVs

  OPV 93C

  The OPV 93C is an offshore patrol vessel designed and developed by Cotecmar. The Colombian Navy ordered one platform in November 2022 and one in ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  MD 500

  The MD 500 is a single-engine light helicopter derived from the Hughes OH-6A Cayuse developed for the US Army in the early 1960s and the ...

• Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles

  SandCat

  The 4x4 SandCat family of vehicles was designed by Israeli armour specialist Plasan Sasa in 2005 for a range of military, special operations, homeland security, ...

• Submarines: conventional, attack

  Type 209/1200

  The Type 209/1200 diesel-electric submarine is a variant of the Type 209 submarine designed by the German company Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft exclusively for the export market. ...

• Naval guns

  OTO Strales/Davide

  The OTO Strales represents the second iteration of the OTO 76/62mm Super Rapido gun from Leonardo. The weapon, which is in service with the Italian ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  EMB-312 Tucano

  The EMB-312 Tucano (Brazilian designation T-27) is a trainer and light attack aircraft developed by Embraer to meet the training requirements of the Brazilian Air ...