• Training

  I/ITSEC 2016: Lakota maintainers go virtual

  1st December 2016

  The National Guard is using this year’s I/ITSEC to display a new virtual maintenance trainer (VMT) it has rolled out, which teaches ground maintenance operations …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2016: ATC and Rockwell Collins in B-52 win

  1st December 2016

  Aviation Training Consulting (ATC) based in Altus, Oklahoma, and Rockwell Collins as its subcontractor, will provide training systems upgrades to the US Air Force’s B-52 training …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2016: Fundamental changes ahead for defence in Europe (video)

  1st December 2016

  Shephard spoke with Simon Williams, chairman defence and security at Clarion Events, about some of the differences between the US and European market ahead of …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2016: A solution to the readiness crisis?

  1st December 2016

  For years militaries around the world have been on a quest to properly quantify readiness and what it means for the effectiveness of a force …

• Digital Battlespace

  Northrop Grumman delivers submarine sensors

  1st December 2016

  The US Navy’s Virginia class submarines are set for enhanced capabilities with Northrop Grumman delivering the first Block IV Light Weight Wide Aperture Array (LWWAA) …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2016: F-35 to drive rethink of training requirements (video)

  1st December 2016

  Lockheed Martin showed its F-35 cockpit training system at I/ITSEC in Orlando, the system is currently being fielded across the US and will make its …

• Defence Helicopter

  Belarus receives Mi-8MTV-5 helicopters

  1st December 2016

  Russian Helicopters’ subsidiary, Kazan Helicopters, has delivered first batch of Mi-8MTV-5 helicopters to Belarus, the company announced on 28 November. The six helicopters were delivered …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2016: Open architectures in, proprietary out

  30th November 2016

  Open architecture is a key buzzword permeating any new acquisition strategy outlined by a defence department, particularly when it comes to the ‘plug-and-play’ approach for …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2016: MetaVR outlines terrain improvements

  30th November 2016

  Thousands of feet in the air a US Navy P-8 Poseidon peers down to the ocean surface, using its on-board thermal sensors it can see …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2016: Leaders remain positive on LVC future

  30th November 2016

  Senior service leaders from all branches of the US military have used this year’s I/ITSEC to vocalise their support for a move towards blended, networked …

• Defence Helicopter

  Colombian civil heli market opens up

  30th November 2016

  Sikorsky has secured its position in South America through a recent offshore and utility type certification for a series of the company’s rotorcraft. The certification for the …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2016: NATO field HQs go virtual

  30th November 2016

  NATO’s Allied Command Transformation (NATO-ACT) is using this year’s I/ITSEC to demonstrate a new virtual operational headquarters (VOHQ) concept, designed to bring personnel from different …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2016: UK selects VBS3 – at last

  30th November 2016

  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has selected Bohemia Interactive Simulations’ (BISim's) Virtual Battlespace 3 (VBS3) as the winner of its Defence Virtual Simulation (DVS) …

• Naval Warfare

  UK leads US Task Force 50

  30th November 2016

  The British Royal Navy has taken charge of US Task Force 50 in the Gulf for the first time, it was announced on 26 November. …

• Defence Notes

  Analysis: UK naval shipbuilding

  30th November 2016

  Too little too late There are some great recommendations from Sir John Parker in his independent report about the UK naval shipbuilding industry, all of …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - MALE

  MQ-1 Gray Eagle [US Army]

  Background Required Quantity Although the US Army first envisioned a requirement for 132 MQ-1C Gray Eagles, the US Army's Army Acquisition Objective (AAO) was increased ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  JLTV (US Army) (Batch 1) [USA]

  Background As of January 2021, the US DoD had signed 15 contracts with Oshkosh Defense covering the delivery of approximately 17,731 JLTVs to all branches ...

• Main battle tanks

  Decisive Lethality Platform [USA]

  Background The DLP is one of five vehicle families being developed for the US Army's NGCV programme. Expanded to include five programmes in October 2018, ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Stryker DVH (March 2026) [US]

  Background The US Army has been operating the Stryker since 2002. The Stryker DVH is an upgraded variant that has additional armour on its underside ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Stryker DVH (September 2026) [US]

  Background The US Army has been operating the Stryker since 2002. The Stryker DVH is an upgraded variant that has additional armour on its underside ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  AMPV [US]

  Background Platform development The US Army initiated the AMPV programme to acquire a replacement for several variants of the M113 tracked APC, which has been ...

• Military UAS - small

  Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) (Increment 2) [US Army]

  Programme Background Programme Objective The Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) was to provide a tactical ISTAR capability for US Army Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs). It was intended to ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Heavy Lift VTOL (HVTOL) [US Army]

  Background USMC First, Army Second In September 2021, Kaman unveiled its Kargo UAV, specifically designed to meet the requirements of the Medium Aerial Resupply Vehicle – Expeditionary ...

• Hybrid effector systems

  M-SHORAD Increment 3 [USA]

  Background The US Army is upgrading its maneuver short-range air defense system (M-SHORAD). Under the overal programme, there are three increments. Increment 1 vehicles are ...

• Military UAS - small

  Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) (Increment 1) [USA]

  Programme Background Programme Objective The Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) was to provide a tactical ISTAR capability for US Army Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs). It was ...

• Military UAS - micro

  eBee Vision [US]

  Background Multiple orders In November 2025, the US Army acquired three eBee Vision systems to enhance training operations at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Germany. A ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Stryker (Sergeant Stout) (Batch 2) [USA]

  Background As part of the Army Transformation Initiative, the US DoD is fundamentally reorganising the structure of the US Army. The development of the Sergeant ...

• Military UAS - micro

  Short Range Reconnaissance (SRR) [Tranche 1] / Rucksack Portable UAS (RPUAS) (USA)

  Background The Rucksack Portable UAS (RPUAS) programme The RPUAS programme will provide the Battalion and below-ground manoeuvre elements within the US Army with an organic, ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Stryker (Sergeant Stout) [USA]

  Background As part of the Army Transformation Initiative, the US DoD is fundamentally reorganising the structure of the US Army. As part of this all Infantry Brigade ...

• Land: air defence radar

  Lower Tier Air and Missile Defence Sensor [US]

  Background The US Army's Lower Tier Air and Missile Defence Sensor (LTAMDS) is being acquired from US-based Raytheon.  The United States Army is the primary customer ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  US Army AVCATT PDSS

  L3Harris Technologies is the prime contractor for the US Army’s Aviation Combined Arms Tactical Trainer (AVCATT) Post Deployment Software Support (PDSS) programme. L3Harris Technologies is ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  US Army Flight School XXI OFT/RCTD

  L3Harris Technologies is a major subcontractor to CSC on the US Army’s Flight School XXI (FSXXI) programme. L3Harris Technologies has built or is under contract ...

• 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. 

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  OH-58 Kiowa

  The single-engine OH-58 Kiowa, derived from the Bell 206, entered US Army service in 1969 as a light observation helicopter. More than 2,200 were built for ...

• Towed guns

  M198

  The US Army developed the M198 155mm towed howitzer from 1969 to replace the M114 155mm howitzer. From 1978, 1,600 weapons were built by Rock ...

• Towed mortars

  M120/M120A1

  The M120/M120A1 120 mm Towed Mortar System is a US-built version of the Soltam K6 mortar that was accepted into US Army service in 1990.

• Light tanks

  M10 Booker

  The US Army awarded General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) a contract worth US$1.14 billion to supply 96 light tanks under the Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  UH-72A/B Lakota

  In 2006, the US Army selected a version of the medium-sized, twin-engine H145, designated the UH-72A Lakota,  to meet its requirement for a new Light ...

• Armoured engineer vehicles

  M1150 ABV

  The M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicle (ABV) project, launched by the USMC in 2002, is a joint programme to meet the requirements of both the US ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV)

  BAE Systems' Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) was developed in response to a US Army requirement for a platform to replace the ageing M113 APCs in ...

• Land: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  AN/PLQ-9 Thor-III

  Sierra Nevada’s AN/PLQ-9 Thor-III is the standard Counter Improvised Explosive Device (CIED) manpack system in service with the US Army and US Marine Corps (USMC). ...

• Unguided Mortar Ammunition

  M821A3 High Explosive Mortar Round

  The M821A3 High Explosive Mortar Round is an 81mm mortar round manufactured by Day & Zimmerman for the US Army.

• Unguided Mortar Ammunition

  M933A1 High Explosive Mortar Round

  The M933A1 High Explosive Mortar Round is a 120mm mortar round manufactured by Day & Zimmermann for the US Army.

• Unguided Mortar Ammunition

  M934A1 High Explosive Mortar Round

  The M934A1 High Explosive Mortar Round is a 120mm mortar round produced by Day & Zimmermann for the US Army.

• Unguided Mortar Ammunition

  M930 Illumination Mortar Round

  The M930 Illumination Mortar Round is a 120mm mortar round manufactured by Island Pyrochemical Industries for the US Army.