• Air Warfare

  UK Protector surveillance UAV begins trials

  24th October 2023

  A new uncrewed Royal Air Force aircraft, capable of global surveillance operations, will begin trials in the UK this week.

• Naval Warfare

  Keel laid for USS Tang

  17th August 2023

  The keel was laid for the 32nd Virginia-class submarine USS Tang on 17 August, a Block V variant of the type and the third boat with this name for the USN.

• Naval Warfare

  Japan is developing a new small sea mine

  16th August 2023

  Japan is developing a new kind of small sea mine that can be laid from such platforms as its new Mogami-class frigates.

• Air Warfare

  Northrop Grumman says no to prime role on US Air Force NGAD fighter programme

  28th July 2023

  'We're not planning to respond to the NGAD request for proposal as the prime,' Northrop Grumman's CEO said, revealing the company's decision to opt out of heading up the USAF's Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) programme.

• Air Warfare

  Poland receives new FA-50 light combat jets

  6th November 2023

  The jet deliveries to Poland follow a series of procurement contracts with Korea Aerospace Industries in September 2022, securing a total of 48 FA-50 advanced trainer and light fighters.

• Naval Warfare

  Delay to Irish Naval Service's new Multi-Role Vessel tender raises affordability questions

  11th September 2023

  An expected tender for the procurement of a new Multi Role Vessel (MRV) for the Irish Naval Service (INS) this year has yet to emerge.

• Naval Warfare

  Royal Navy's MEWSIC protection system passes critical tests

  13th November 2023

  The MEWSIC system has been designed to detect radar signals over an extended area and will be built by a consortium consisting of Babcock, Elbit Systems UK and QinetiQ.

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2023: US Army Sentinel A4 air defence radar enters low-rate production

  9th October 2023

  The development, announced at AUSA 2023, has attempted to improve the US Army's ability to track a variety of threats including fixed and rotary wings, UAVs and cruise missiles.

• Naval Warfare

  Saab's C718 expeditionary submarine offered for Dutch Navy's sea denial capability

  3rd August 2023

  Swedish shipbuilder Saab Kockums is offering a new expeditionary submarine design as a contender for the Dutch MoD’s Walrus Submarine Replacement Programme.

• Air Warfare

  Lockheed Martin tests Multi-Function Electronic Warfare pod

  19th October 2023

  Lockheed Martin's Multi-Function Electronic Warfare-Air Large (MFEW-AL) airborne electronic pod payload has been designed to be platform agnostic and detect a variety of threats.

• Naval Warfare

  French nuclear sub Perle returns to action after fire damage

  10th July 2023

  Following sea trials, Rubis-class nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) Perle has been delivered back to the French Navy following extensive repair works after a catastrophic fire in 2020.

• Naval Warfare

  Australia continues to deliver Guardian patrol boats, and it buys sea mines

  13th October 2023

  A total of 17 Guardian-class patrol boats have now been commissioned, while Australia boosts defensive deterrence by renewing a sea mine capability.

• Air Warfare

  Saab begins modification of first Swedish GlobalEye AEW&C aircraft

  30th January 2024

  Saab has begun the modification of the first Bombardier 6000 aircraft for the Swedish Air Force's GlobalEye programme.

• Air Warfare

  Spain signs deal with Airbus for SiRTAP MALE UAS

  29th November 2023

  Spain’s MoD has signed a deal with Airbus for a new multirole UAS which will be ITAR-free and primarily designed for ISTAR operations. It has been planned for service with Spain, Colombia and Serbia.

• Air Warfare

  Singapore Airshow 2024: Singapore’s Apache upgrade among plans to renew RSAF capabilities

  20th February 2024

  Singapore’s air force chief has confirmed plans to extend the life of the RSAF’s Apaches to beyond 2030, as well as revealing the next steps for future purchases of F-35s, replacements for its UAV fleet and updates to its ground-based air defence systems.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Maritime patrol

  P-8A Poseidon [US]

  Programme Background The P-8A Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) system is a heavily modified and militarized derivative of Boeing's 737-800 ERX commercial aircraft. The P-8A is ...

• Maritime patrol

  P-8A Poseidon [UK]

  Programme Background In July 2016, the UK government announced that it had ordered nine aircraft for service with the RAF. Under this frame, in January ...

• Military helicopters - maritime, Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-53K - US Navy

  Programme Background The Marine Corps is replacing its aging CH-53E helicopters with the CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter. Designed as an evolution of the CH-53E, the CH-53K ...

• Frigates

  Second-hand LCS [Greece]

  Programme Background Timeline In January 2024, Tasos Chatzivasileiou, a Member of the Hellenic Parliament and Secretary General of the Standing Committee of National Defence and Foreign ...

• Landing craft and hovercraft

  Landing Craft Utility (LCU) 1700 [USN]

  Programme Background Timeline The US Navy LCU 1700 amphibious landing craft are being procured to replace the ageing LCU 1610 class, which has an average ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | F-35B STOVL Future Procurement - US Navy

  The US Navy is planning to order 115 F-35B STOVLs between FY2026 and FY2031 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated ...

• Data links

  Data links | F-35B STOVL Future Procurement - US Navy

  The US Navy is planning to order 115 F-35B STOVLs between FY2026 and FY2031 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | F-35B STOVL Future Procurement - US Navy

  The US Navy is planning to order 115 F-35B STOVLs between FY2026 and FY2031 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | F-35B STOVL Future Procurement - US Navy

  The US Navy is planning to order 115 F-35B STOVLs between FY2026 and FY2031 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | F-35B STOVL Future Procurement - US Navy

  The US Navy is planning to order 115 F-35B STOVLs between FY2026 and FY2031 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-53K - US Navy Follow-On

  Programme Background The Marine Corps is replacing its ageing CH-53E helicopters with the CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter. Designed as an evolution of the CH-53E, the CH-53K ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | F-35C Carrier Variant (CV) Future Procurement

  The US Navy is planning to order 130 F-35Cs between FY2026 and FY2030 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated be ...

• Data links

  Data links | F-35C Carrier Variant (CV) Future Procurement

  The US Navy is planning to order 130 F-35Cs between FY2026 and FY2030 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated be ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | F-35C Carrier Variant (CV) Future Procurement

  The US Navy is planning to order 130 F-35Cs between FY2026 and FY2030 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated be ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | F-35C Carrier Variant (CV) Future Procurement

  The US Navy is planning to order 130 F-35Cs between FY2026 and FY2030 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated be ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• US Navy T-44C training services

  In late 2013, CAE received a contract to provide the USN with comprehensive T-44C aircrew training services at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas. CAE USA is ...

• Maritime patrol

  US-2

  The ShinMaywa US-2 is an amphibious short take-off and landing aircraft used primarily by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) for SAR. 

• Destroyers

  Kee Lung (Kidd) Class

  The Kee Lung-class consists of four ex-US Kidd-class guided missile destroyers in service with the Republic of China Navy (ROCN). The ships were originally built for ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Integrated Combat System

  The Integrated Combat System (ICS) is a combat management system being developed for the US Navy. The project, currently led by Lockheed Martin, aims to ...

• Sea: sonar systems

  AN/SQS-53

  The AN/SQS-53 is a computer-controlled sonar system with both active and passive operating capabilities. It can perform ASW search, detection, localisation and tracking tasks. In addition ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Navy Multiband Terminal (NMT)

  The Navy Multiband Terminal is the next-generation maritime military SATCOM for the US Navy and allied nations. The terminal integrates EHF and AEHF systems with ...

• EO/IR systems

  Sea Star Safire III

  Sea Star Safire III is a naval variant of FLIR Systems' EO/IR system. Its key capabilities include gyro-stabilisation, high-resolution thermal imaging and an eye-safe laser ...

• Sea: sonar systems

  AN/SQQ-89

  The AN/SQQ-89 is an ASW combat system incorporates and processes all the sonar information and LAMPS sensor data. Manufactured by Lockheed Martin, there are currently ...

• ISR/special mission

  E-130J

  The E130J is being developed for the United States Navy as part of the Take Charge and Move Out (TACAMO) project to replace the E-6B ...

• Minehunters

  Lerici/Gaeta Class

  The Lerici- and Gaeta-classes of minehunters are in service with the Italian Navy, and modified Gaeta variants entered into service with the Royal Australian Navy ...

• Air: sonar systems

  AN/AQS-22 ALFS

  The AN/AQS-22 Airborne Low-Frequency Sonar (ALFS) is the primary undersea warfare sensor for the USN MH-60R Seahawk multi-mission helicopter. The sonar system enables the MH-60R ...

• Data links

  GNOMAD US Domestic

  The US domestic version of GNOMAD (see separate entry) is a ruggedised system comprising a satellite antenna and baseband modular chassis that can be installed ...

• Frigates

  Hamilton Class

  The Hamilton-class cutter was originally the largest class of vessels operated by the US Coast Guard (USCG) before being replaced by the Legend-class. 12 cutters ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  S-70B/SH-60B Seahawk

  The SH-60B is an ASW/ASuW helicopter that is usually embarked on frigates, destroyers and cruisers. The SH-60B entered US service in 1984 and was retired ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  AN/SPS-52

  AN/SPS-52 is a long-range 3D naval air surveillance radar, developed originally by Hughes Electronics, which merged with Raytheon in 1997. The original AN/SPS-52 entered service ...