• Defence Notes

  France favours air force in 2023 defence budget

  11th October 2022

  Galvanised by the Russia-Ukraine war, French military spending plans for 2023 focus on fixed-wing aviation.

• Naval Warfare

  Two carriers are better than one

  6th September 2022

  While the recent problems with HMS Prince of Wales are regrettable, the incident has vindicated the UK's decision to purchase two aircraft carriers.

• Naval Warfare

  Babcock begins upkeep of Royal Navy frigate HMS Argyll

  17th August 2022

  Babcock has begun post-life extension (LIFEX) upkeep of Royal Navy Duke-class Type 23 frigate HMS Argyll at its Devonport facility.

• Land Warfare

  Babcock and Israel Aerospace Industries partner to offer Compact Multi Mission Radar for UK MoD's Serpens programme

  12th August 2022

  Babcock has signed an MoU with Israel Aerospace Industries' Elta Systems subsidiary to provide a deep-find radar solution for the UK MoD's Serpens programme.

• Naval Warfare

  BAE Systems envisages new build hall at Govan as first Type 26 nears launch

  30th August 2022

  With the first Royal Navy Type 26 frigate taking shape on the hardstand at BAE Systems' Govan shipyard in Glasgow, the company is looking to ensure the future of the site with a new shipbuilding hall.

• Land Warfare

  Farnborough 2022: Babcock partners with Rafael for UK land ground-based air defence programme

  22nd July 2022

  Babcock and Rafael have joined forces to provide C2 solutions for a GBAD programme in the UK.

• Training

  Ascent to boost training with FIRCTS

  13th July 2022

  The Future ISTAR and Rear Crew Training System competition in the UK is likely to generate interest from major suppliers such as Collins Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, CAE, Elbit and Thales.

• Defence Helicopter

  Modification work begins on French Navy H160s for maritime SAR

  27th May 2022

  The first of six H160s is now being modified for French Navy SAR missions.

• Naval Warfare

  Babcock wins ten-year Queen Elizabeth-class dry dock contract

  16th May 2022

  The first activity in a dry-dock contract for the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers is scheduled for 2023.

• Naval Warfare

  UK to upgrade Tomahawk missiles

  31st May 2022

  The Tomahawk land attack missiles operated from RN Astute-class submarines will receive enhanced long-range strike capability and improved protection.

• Naval Warfare

  Greece to select corvette supplier by the end of June

  30th May 2022

  The Hellenic Navy is undergoing a significant modernisation project, including new frigates, upgrades to existing ships, a requirement for Corvette-like vessels and local industrial work.

• Training

  IT2EC 2022: Babcock seeking to strengthen training brand

  29th April 2022

  Babcock holds contracts for training across the different domains of defence supporting UK and other armed forces.

• Training

  Simthetiq to provide 3D model for RCAF CH-146 Griffon

  20th May 2022

  The new model for the Mission Rehearsal Tactical Trainer will provide CH-146 gunners and rear crew with an increased immersive and higher fidelity experience.

• Naval Warfare

  Babcock signs four-year deal to support NAM Atlântico

  13th April 2022

  Brazil purchased the former HMS Ocean in February 2018 and later commissioned the ship as Atlântico in June 2018.

• Naval Warfare

  UDT 2022 heads to the Grey Zone (Sponsored)

  23rd May 2022

  In June, the underwater defence technology community heads to Rotterdam for UDT 2022 to explore aspects of underwater defence and security that are of increasing importance to naval forces and governments worldwide, under the theme of ‘the Grey Zone: Undersea Technologies to Protect Maritime Trade, Operations & Infrastructure’.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Data links

  Data links | PC-7 MKX [France]

  Babcock International Group announced on 10 January 2025 a new 17-year contract worth $827.9 million to supply the French Air and Space Force and the French ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | PC-7 MKX [France]

  Babcock International Group announced on 10 January 2025 a new 17-year contract worth $827.9 million to supply the French Air and Space Force and the French ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | PC-7 MKX [France]

  Babcock International Group announced on 10 January 2025 a new 17-year contract worth $827.9 million to supply the French Air and Space Force and the French ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | PC-7 MKX [France]

  Babcock International Group announced on 10 January 2025 a new 17-year contract worth $827.9 million to supply the French Air and Space Force and the French ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  UK supplied Fast Inshore Attack Craft (FIAC) [Ukraine]

  Programme Background It was first reported in late September 2020 that the UK could provide eight Barzan-class fast attack craft to Ukraine. The platform has been ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Arrowhead 140 Frigate Acquisition (3-4) [Indonesia]

  Indonesia has awarded a contract to Babcock for the sale of two additional Arrowhead 140 frigate licenses. The agreement falls under the £4 billion (US$5.49 ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  SW4 Puszczyk Replacement [Poland]

  Programme Background  In 2002, Poland order 47 SW4 training helicopters from Italian manufacturer Leonardo; as of Spring 2025, the Ministry of Defence is looking to ...

• Trainer

  PC-21 [France]

  Programme  Background The French Air and Space Force has chosen Dassault Aviation and Babcock to provide between nine and 13 Pilatus PC-21 aircraft for Phase ...

• Trainer

  PC-7 MKX [France]

  Development Babcock is set to supply the French Air and Space Force with 22 PC-7 MKX aircraft and 12 training stimulators for a total programme ...

• Frigates

  Inspiration Class (Type 31) (1-5) [UK]

  Development The Inspiration-class (Type 31) frigate programme for the UK Royal Navy (RN) emerged during the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) 2015 when the MoD ...

• Patrol boats

  Second-hand patrol boats (Ireland)

  Programme Background The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) announced on 14 March that it was selling two decommissioned 340t Inshore Patrol Vessels (IPVs) to Ireland. As ...

• Frigates

  Arrowhead 140 Frigate Acquisition (3-4) [Indonesia]

  Programme Background Timeline The design options initially shortlisted for the first two frigates were an improved variant of the SIGMA 10514 design from Damen, the 30FFM ...

• Aircraft carriers

  Queen Elizabeth Class

  The contract to begin the construction of the first ship was awarded in 2008, ten years after the programme was announced in the 1998 SDR. ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  Project Land 2097 Phase 4 [Australia]

  Programme Background According to the RfI, under Project Land 2097 Phase 4, the selected helicopter must comprise a commercial or military off-the-shelf solution that is ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  Future Aircrew Training Program (Helicopter Procurement) - Canada

  Programme Background The FAcT requires to graduate 120 pilots, 40 combat systems officers and 36 airborne electronic sensor operators per year with 15% fluctuation. Training services ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Frigates

  Inspiration Class (Type 31)

  The Inspiration-class (Type 31) is a general-purpose frigate being procured by the UK RN to replace its Type 23 Duke-class frigates. The new frigates will ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  General Logistics Vehicle

  The General Logistics Vehicle (GLV) is a light utility vehicle manufactured by Babcock International. Unveiled at DSEI 2023, it is a militarised version of the Toyota Land Cruiser ...

• Trainer

  TB 30 Epsilon

  The Socata TB 30 Epsilon is a light truboprop trainer aircraft. The first aircraft flew in 1979 and entered service in 1983. It is in ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  UK MFTS

  The Military Flying Training System (MFTS) programme, is a private finance initiative involving the MoD and Ascent, a JV of Lockheed Martin and Babcock, which was ...

• Major networking projects

  Project Marshall

  The Joint Military Air Traffic Services project was initiated by the UK MoD in November 2005 to identify and evaluate options for the future delivery ...

• Frigates

  Miecznik frigates (Arrowhead 140)

  The Miecznik frigates are based on the Babcock Arrowhead 140 design, already selected by the Royal Navy and the Indonesian Navy. Three ships have been ordered ...

• Trainer

  PC-21

  Pilatus began the development of the PC-21 single-turboprop low-wing swept monoplane advanced trainer in 1999. The PC-21 can also be operated in the light attack ...

• 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 ...

• Trainer

  Phenom 100

  Phenom 100 is a very light jet originally developed for single owner-pilot operation but later gained popularity as a jet trainer aircraft. The platform first ...

• Towed guns

  Centurion LPWS

  Raytheon developed the Centurion Land-based Phalanx Weapon System (LPWS) in 2004-05 to provide a C-RAM system to protect US bases in Iraq. The heart of ...

• Military - USVs

  Romulus

  The Romulus is an uncrewed surface vessel (USV) designed by Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII).  According to HII, the Romulus USV was designed as a force ...

• Naval guns

  Bofors 40 mk4

  Bofors 40 Mk4 is a naval gun system developed and produced by BAE Systems. It was originally produced by Swedish Bofors, which was acquired by ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  SK4110

  Rohde&Schwarz; SK4110 is a high-power HF transmitter that provides beyond-line-of-sight communications with a high data rate. Notably, it has a liquid cooling system and optional ...

• Frigates

  Red White Class (Arrowhead 140)

  The Red White-class frigates are based on Babcock's Arrowhead 140 design. Indonesia ordered two vessels in 2021, and the lead ship is currently being built ...

• Light UGVs

  SPUR

  The Squad Packable Utility Robot (SPUR) is QinitiQ's newest tactical land UGV. Designed to be backpackable, the drone can be deployed rapidly from its stowed state.  It ...