• Naval Warfare

  Europe’s naval contractors benefit from growing refit and upgrade demand

  10th August 2026

  Rheinmetall’s order to modernise the German Navy frigate Bayern points to a wider European shift towards extending warship service life as new-build programmes face delay.

• Land Warfare

  Rolls-Royce to lead powertrain development for MGCS in important step for the programme

  13th March 2026

  The move signals significant progress for the delayed Franco-German Main Ground Combat System programme with first powerpack prototypes set to be tested before the end of the decade.

• Land Warfare

  Lasers heat up for counter-drone option as DroneLight tackles the big question

  16th July 2026

  Using lasers to defeat drones promises to solve the dilemma of using expensive kinetic effects to kill platforms worth a few hundred dollars. While maintaining thermal output to provide the effects can be a technical hurdle, Israel’s Esh-Tech is one company working on a solution.

• Land Warfare

  Germany orders 84 Boxer howitzers as UK commits to a single demonstrator

  29th December 2025

  Germany has ordered 84 RCH 155 self-propelled guns along with 200 Puma infantry fighting vehicles, as the the UK commits to a single Early Capability Demonstrator RCH 155.

• Land Warfare

  Germany set to order 75 more Leopard 2A8s after 12 months of wins for the platform

  20th November 2025

  Leopard 2 variants have been introduced in 15 European countries and are in use across 23 nations worldwide, with 301 Leopard 2A8s alone having now been ordered.

• Air Warfare

  The growing importance of the Blue UAS Cleared List

  21st October 2025

  Inclusion on the Defense Innovation Unit’s Blue UAS Cleared List is set to become ever more crucial for uncrewed aerial vehicle manufacturers due to the access it gives to the US market, which is set to expand significantly over the next 10 years.

• Air Warfare

  December drone digest: Germany, Australia and US champion indigenous UAV production

  30th December 2025

  One of the key trends seen in December has been the rise in indigenous investment within the UAV market, particularly across certain countries, with Germany, Australia and the US focusing on their commitments to sovereign development.

• Land Warfare

  Europe’s air defence boosted by more IRIS-T SLM system orders

  4th August 2025

  The IRIS-T (InfraRed Imaging System - Tail/thrust vector-controlled) SLM (Surface Launched Medium-Range) is a surface-to-air missile system has been developed by Diehl Defence. The system is a key part of the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI) and have been purchased by Sweden for this role.

• Land Warfare

  German MARS III tests Kongsberg NSM

  27th May 2025

  Germany is looking to expand its artillery capability and like other countries is looking to improved costal defence.

• Air Warfare

  German Air Force pushes ahead with A400M infrared protection system upgrade

  6th June 2025

  The Direct Infrared Counter Measures (DIRCM) system will serve to protect the aircraft from surface-to-air missile threats, with installation scheduled for later this year.

• Land Warfare

  Company formed to lead Franco-German main battle tank replacement

  18th April 2025

  Launched at the initiative of the French and German governments, the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) project aims to replace the German Leopard 2 and French Leclerc main battle tanks with a multi-platform ground combat system by 2040.

• Air Warfare

  Germany signs $15 million deal for Black Hornet 4 nano-drones

  25th February 2025

  Teledyne FLIR Defense has delivered more than 33,000 Black Hornet uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAV)s to 45 countries and are being used Ukrainian forces in the war against Russia.

• Land Warfare

  Europe’s next-generation tank crawls forward and adopts a proven process

  5th May 2025

  The Franco-German Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) is ambitious and is using a procurement system which has had some success in the continent’s aircraft purchasing processes with a separate company established and subsystems identified.

• Land Warfare

  Germany places order for army medical stations

  9th January 2025

  The aid stations are designed to be mounted onto trucks, such as the Rheinnetall HX family of vehicles, and will be in ballistic protected and unprotected versions.

• Naval Warfare

  Saab and Singapore DSTA expand their understanding on undersea defence

  22nd November 2024

  The organisations have broadened the remit of an existing MoU to help boost underwater defence innovation.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - micro

  Black Hornet 4 [Germany]

  Programme Background BAAINBw In February 2025, Shephard reported that Teledyne FLIR had been awarded a $15 million contract from Germany’s Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology ...

• Military UAS - mini

  FALKE (2022-2023) [Germany]

  Background Inception In November 2022, the German Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) published details on its desire to award a ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  LuWa [Germany]

  Background The German Army has a requirement for a new airmobile AFV to replace the Wiesel 1s used by its 1st Airmobile Brigade, as well ...

• Submarines: conventional/attack

  Additional Type 212CD (3-6) [Germany]

  Programme Background Requirements The German Navy will need to start replacing its fleet of six Type 212A in the 2030s. Two new Type 212CD were ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  SIGINT ships Type 424 (1-3) [Germany]

  Background Requirements Germany is seeking to replace the three SIGINT ships, Type 423 Oste-class boats Oste, Oker, and Alster. According to the Bundeswehr, the new vessels will ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  NH90 NFH [Germany]

  Background Requirement The NATO Helicopter Management Agency, acting on behalf of the German defence procurement agency BAAINBw, formally ordered 31 NH90 Multi Role Frigate Helicopters (MRFHs) on ...

• Military UAS - small

  Puma 2 AE [Germany]

  Programme Background The Germany navy had an urgent requirement for three UAS required for reconnaissance and identification in maritime operations. A platform was required that ...

• Frigates

  F126 programme (5-6) [Germany]

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

• Submarines: conventional/attack

  Additional Type 212CD (7-9) [Germany]

  Background Requirements The German Navy will need to start replacing its fleet of six Type 212A in the 2030s. Two new Type 212CD were ordered ...

• ISR/special mission

  Pegasus SIGINT Aircraft (1-3) [Germany]

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

• Loitering munitions

  Short-range loitering munitions [Germany]

  Background Requirment In early 2026, the German Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) reportedly initiated a market review for short-range loitering ...

• Frigates

  F125 (Baden-Württemberg Class)

  Programme Background The Baden Württemberg class (F125) frigates are in fact closer to the size of a destroyer than a traditional frigate, however, designed for ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  SIGINT ships Type 424 (4) [Germany]

  Background Requirements Germany is seeking to replace the three SIGINT ships, Type 423 Oste-class boats Oste, Oker, and Alster. According to the Bundeswehr, the new ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  CATV [Netherlands]

  Background CATV The CATV programme was initiated in 2019, when the UK, Germany, Netherlands and Sweden signed an MoU to share acquisition costs for the ...

• Frigates

  MEKO A-200 (F128 class) (1-4) [Germany]

  Background Requirements The German Bundestag is considering allocating funds up to 7.8 billion (US$9.15 billion) towards the procurement of an alternative to the F126, currently ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Construction vehicles

  G-LTM 1090-4.2 armoured mobile crane

  Liebherr has manufactured more than 800 military cranes with lifting capacities from 10 to 500t since 1977. In June 2017, Germany’s Federal Office of Bundeswehr ...

• Medium Range Missile Defence Systems: 20-90km range

  IRIS-T Surface Launched (SL) system

  The IRIS-T Surface Launched (SL) system is designed to provide 360° protection against attacks from aircraft, helicopters, UAVs, cruise missiles, guided weapons and rockets. The ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  GSD LuWa

  Luftbeweglichen Waffenträger (LuWa) is an air-transportable light armoured vehicle commissioned by the German Army. It is intended to be used by airborne troops as a replacement ...

• Transponders and IFF

  MSSR 2000 ID

  MSSR 2000 ID (also known as AN/UPX-48) is a Mode 5 IFF interrogator system designed for medium-to-long range applications on land and at sea. According to ...

• Land: air defence radar

  Passive Radar

  The Passive Radar detects airborne and sea targets by detecting disturbances to civilian FM radio, DAB and DVB-T transmissions in the VHF range. When receiving ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  SitaWare Maritime

  Developed by Systematic, SitaWare Maritime is a C4ISR system that emphasises interoperability, the ability to provide a recognised maritime picture, and data-led decision-making aids. According ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  BvS10 Mk II

  Based on its experience with the Bv206S, BAE Systems Hägglunds developed the tracked BvS10 all-terrain armoured vehicle to meet the requirements of the UK Royal ...

• Land: soldier modernisation systems - national programmes

  Gladius/IdZ

  Gladius is the latest iteration of the Infantryman of the Future (Infanterist der Zukunft or IdZ) project. In 2009, Rheinmetall was awarded a contract to ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Piranha V 6x6

  The Piranha V, the latest member of the Piranha family of wheeled armoured fighting vehicles, introduced a vehicle in the upper weight class. Unveiled in ...

• Medium Range Missile Defence Systems: 20-90km range

  TLVS

  The Taktisches Luftverteidigungssystem (TLVS), or Tactical Air Defence System, was an advanced air and missile defence initiative pursued by Germany to enhance its defensive capabilities ...

• Self-propelled rocket launchers

  M270 MLRS

  Development of the M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) began in the US in 1976 and was extended in 1983 to include France, Germany, Italy ...

• Submarines: conventional/attack

  Type 212CD

  Norway is to get six new Type 212CD ‘common design’ submarines to replace the existing Ula-class SSKs after it selected German shipbuilder ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Skeldar V-200B / Sea Falcon

  The Skeldar V-200B, an improved variant of the Skeldar V-200 VTOL UAV, has been designed for maritime applications. Unveiled in 2018 by UMS Skeldar, the V-200B has ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  9LV Combat Management System

  Developed by Saab, the 9LV CMS provides scalable options for naval combat systems, and has been delivered on more than 230 ships – from small patrol ...

• Minehunters

  Frankenthal Class (Type 332)

  Type 332-class coastal minehunters are in service with the German (Frankenthal-class), Turkish (Aydin-class) and UAE (Frankenthal-class) navies. The latter navy operates ships transferred from the ...