• Naval Warfare

  Royal Navy Type 31 build plans remain unclear as name game gets a head start

  18th September 2019

  Despite the selection of Babcock’s Arrowhead 140 design for the UK Royal Navy’s Type 31 light frigate programme, both potential supplier and customer remain cagey …

• Training

  Team AERALIS adds KBR

  20th September 2019

  AERALIS, the British company developing a family of new military and aerobatic jet trainer aircraft, has signed a MoU with service provision specialists, KBR. The …

• Naval Warfare

  DSEI 2019: Royal Navy watchers a-quiver as Arrowhead 140 gets the go-ahead

  12th September 2019

  The multi-episode marathon that has been the UK Royal Navy’s Type 31e light frigate saga has finally come to a conclusion with the announcement on …

• Land Warfare

  DSEI 2019: OSG unveils touchscreen armoured glass solution

  15th September 2019

  Israeli company OSG used DSEI to unveil a touch-screen variant of its ScreeneX vision-through-glass technology. Already supplying transparent armoured glass to multiple vehicle original equipment …

• Training

  Germany prepares to announce Sea Lion simulator winner

  5th September 2019

  The German Federal Procurement Agency (BAAINBw) is expected to announce the winner of it’s long-running Sea Lion simulator programme in early October. The long-awaited contract covers …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  GA-ASI expands Belgian team, is granted BVLOS permissions

  2nd September 2019

  General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has added four more Belgium-based businesses to its industry team that will deliver the MQ-9B SkyGuardian unmanned aerial vehicle to the …

• Training

  Atkins joins Aeralis trainer aircraft project

  19th August 2019

  Atkins has announced that it is collaborating with aircraft designer and manufacturer Aeralis to develop a new family of training jet aircraft. They will jointly …

• Land Warfare

  Thales assures future of Hawkei engines

  26th July 2019

  To ensure ongoing production of the Thales Australia Hawkei 4x4 light protected mobility vehicle for the Australian Army, the Thales conglomerate has acquired the vehicle's engine …

• Land Warfare

  Thales continues Lithgow Arms investment

  25th July 2019

  Thales' investment at its Australian Lithgow Arms facility continues with a $1.8 million honing machine added to the site's rifle production line. The new equipment …

• Land Warfare

  Insight: French vehicle competitions heat up

  23rd July 2019

  France continues to march forward with its Scorpion modernisation programme, with the recent delivery of the first Griffon multirole armoured vehicles (VBMR) on schedule this …

• Digital Battlespace

  Asian nations boost spy satellite capacities

  13th August 2019

  Asian countries continue to enhance their satellite constellations, with China, India and South Korea all making recent announcements in the space realm.  China, for instance, …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Watchkeeper progress points to subtle success for British Army

  23rd July 2019

  The widely publicised crashes and delays that have long derailed the UK’s unmanned Watchkeeper programme look to be behind the MoD as it moves out …

• Digital Battlespace

  Thales electronics for Belgian vehicles

  17th July 2019

  The vehicles being supplied to Belgium under the Scorpion programme will be equipped with Thales vehicle electronics, the company announced on 16 July. A total …

• Naval Warfare

  Royal Navy vessel fires Martlet missile

  18th July 2019

  The Royal Navy has tested a modified ship-launched version of the Thales Martlet missile from HMS Sutherland. The Martlet Lightweight Multi-role Missile was originally designed …

• Land Warfare

  New Zealand picks up pace with vehicle replacements

  2nd August 2019

  The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) is buying a batch of 4x4 all-terrain vehicles (ATV), as well as forging ahead with plans to acquire more …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• ISR/special mission

  Strategic Intelligence Aircraft [France]

  Programme Background In February 2018, the Minister of the Armed Forces, Florence Parly, announced that the strategic intelligence aircraft program CUGE Universal EW Capability began ...

• 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 ...

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

  Spy Ranger SMDR - Contracted (France)

  Programme Background Requirement The French Army has identified a need for a new tactical UAS to replace the Drac UAS, which first entered service in ...

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

  Spy Ranger SMDR - Option (France)

  Programme Background Requirement The French Army has identified a need for a new tactical UAS to replace the Drac UAS, which first entered service in ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Flexible Tactical Uncrewed Air System (FTUAS) [UK]

  Programme Background Tender Notice & Timeline On 25 May 2021, the MoD published a tender notice for the urgent acquisition of a UAS and ancillaries under ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Su-30SM Armenia

  The Su-30SM is upgraded variant of Su-30MKI. Its capabilities include Bars-R radar, RVV-SV medium-range air-to-air missile, Thales SMD55S/VEN-3022 or Russian IKSh-1M avionics replacing Elbit SU967 head-up display, LINS-1000RS inertial ...

• 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 ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  LAV Replacement [Japan]

  Programme Background The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) and Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) received 1,937 Light Armoured Vehicles (LAVs) from Komatsu between 2001 and ...

• Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles

  Belgium Jaguar Medium Common Armoured Vehicle Platform

  Programme Background In its Strategic Vision for Defence document published in June 2016, the Belgian MoD outlined its aspirations for equipping five motorised manoeuvre battalions ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6, MPVs - 4x4

  Multi-Role Vehicle (Protected) Package 2

  Programme Background The MRV-P platforms will replace a diverse fleet of 4x4 and 6x6 vehicles purchased during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, thereby helping to ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  VBCI (Qatar)

  Programme Background The VBCI-2 was selected in preference to a competing offer comprising Patria's AMV 8x8 equipped with a Lockheed Martin turret. However, at the ...

• Frigates

  Joint Future Surface Combatant - FSC (3) [Belgium]

  Programme Background Timeline In June 2018, both Belgium and the Netherlands signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the joint procurement of at least four ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  MD 530G Lebanon

  The Armed MD 530G Scout Attack Helicopter features next-generation all-glass cockpit that includes: two Genesys Aerosystems IDU-680 6” x 9” LCD primary displays, Tek Fusion ...

• Frigates

  MKS 180 Programme (1-4) [Germany]

  Programme Background Timeline The MKS 180 frigate programme for the Federal German Navy reflects the desire for the German government to become more engaged on ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Belgium Griffon Light Common Armoured Vehicle Platform

  Programme Background In its Strategic Vision for Defence document published in June 2016, the Belgian MoD outlined its aspirations for equipping five motorised manoeuvre battalions ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Transponders and IFF

  Thales TSX-3500

  Thales TSX 3500 Family includes the TSA & TSB 3520 - Naval IFF Interrogators and Combined Interrogator Transponder, which provide medium and long-range information on ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  SquadNet Soldier Radio

  Thales SquadNet Soldier Radio is compact radio with a simplified screen designed for dismounted troops. It has built-in Bluetooth and GPS functionality, as well as ...

• Naval: Radio and SATCOM

  SURFSAT-L

  Produced by Thales, SURFSAT-L is a SATCOM terminal designed for medium to large surface vessels. According to the manufacturer, it is designed to achieve a ...

• Frigates

  SIGMA 115115HN

  Dutch shipbuilder Damen has designed a new multi-mission frigate as part of the Sigma class known as the Sigma 11515. As with all Sigma-class designs, ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  NH90

  As part of the Helisim consortium based in Marignane, Thales has supplied an NH90 simulator for use by French and foreign military forces. Helisim also ...

• Land: tactical engagement simulators

  Live Training Solutions

  Thales offers live training solutions for land and combined forces around the world. Thales Combat Training Centres are available for open and urban battlefields, and ...

• EO/IR systems

  TALIOS

  The TArgeting Long-range Identification Optronic System (TALIOS) is a targeting pod from Thales.  It is equipped with top-down and bottom-up datalinks and can scan a large area, identify ...

• Service Provision

  Thales supports armed forces in peacetime and during operations, providing ab initio, operational conversion, continuation, upgrade and refresher training, through to mission rehearsal in preparation ...

• Air: transport/tanker simulators

  A330 Voyager MRTT Training Services

  Through AirTanker Services, a JV between Thales, Airbus Group, Cobham, Rolls-Royce and Babcock, Thales provides and maintains training services for the RAF’s Future Strategic Tanker ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  Airborne Electronic Attack

  Thales provides high-powered stand-off and escort jamming using AESA technology. It is designed to increase electronic support and electronic attack capability through jamming functions, according ...

• Sea: sonar systems

  2093 Variable Depth Sonar

  The 2093 Variable Depth Sonar is a multi-frequency multi-mode mine-hunting sonar designed for deep and shallow-water missions. The winch carries 300m of armoured tow cable ...

• Air: helicopter radar, Air: surveillance and maritime patrol radar, Air: UAS radar

  Searchmaster

  The Searchmaster by Thales is an airborne multirole surveillance radar that uses an X-Band AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) technology. It can be utilised in Anti-Surface Warfare, ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  Tiger Aircrew Training

  Thales provides Tiger aircrew training solutions for the armed forces in Australia, France and Germany. Thales is currently upgrading the systems under the Tiger aircrew training ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  FlexNet

  FlexNet is an SDR V/UHF communication system designed to be the 'building blocks' of network-enabled capability, developed by Thales and Rockwell Collins Government Systems. The ...

• Loitering munitions

  Toutatis

  The Toutatis is an in-development loitering munition from Thales. According to Thales, the platform is effective against groups of fighters and unarmored and light-armoured vehicles. Unveiled at ...