• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUVSI 2016: Sentient pushes ahead with ViDAR

  27th April 2016

  Sentient Vision Systems are continuing with their development of the Kestrel maritime ViDAR software, and revealed that the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) will deploy a …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUVSI 2016: More substance for the Shadow

  27th April 2016

  The awarding of a $116.5 million deal to Textron Systems Unmanned Systems upgrade 24 US Army RQ-7B Shadow tactical UAS to the V2 standard will …

• Defence Notes

  Australia requests AIM-120D missiles

  27th April 2016

  The US State Department has approved a possible foreign military sale of AIM-120D advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles to Australia, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  CASC UAVs take world by storm

  27th April 2016

  The Cai Hong family of UAVs, China’s most successful UAV export series, is increasingly orbiting the world. Their manufacturer, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  DSA 2016: Endeavor Robotics eyes As-Pac

  27th April 2016

  A set of unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) from Endeavour Robotics will be demonstrated to militaries and police forces in Malaysia and Singapore later this year. …

• Naval Warfare

  USCG orders new C-130J

  26th April 2016

  Lockheed Martin has received a $61.3 million contract from the US Air Force (USAF) for the production of a C-130J long range surveillance aircraft for …

• Land Warfare

  Mine clearance vehicle for Ukraine SSES

  26th April 2016

  The Kremenchug Automobile Plant has built a special heavy mine clearing vehicle for the Ukraine State Service for Emergency Situations (SSES) department in Lugansk, it was …

• Training

  Australia, Japan conclude bilateral exercise

  26th April 2016

  Aircraft and ships from the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) have completed the bilateral Exercise Nichi Gou Trident off …

• Defence Notes

  France torpedoes German and Japanese submarine bids

  26th April 2016

  France’s DCNS has been selected as winner of Australia’s AU$50 billion (US$38.5 billion) Project Sea 1000 Future Submarine programme.  The Cherbourg-based shipbuilder will help design …

• Digital Battlespace

  Harris selected for Australian communications contract

  26th April 2016

  The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has named Harris Corporation as the preferred tenderer for its new integrated battlespace communication system, the company announced on 22 …

• Military Logistics

  Canada opens Leopard II maintenance facility

  25th April 2016

  The Canadian Army has opened its new Leopard II Main Battle Tank Maintenance Facility at the 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown, it announced on …

• Defence Notes

  Lockheed receives JASSM-ER order

  25th April 2016

  Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $116.8 million contract by the US Air Force (USAF) for continued production of the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range …

• Military Logistics

  USMC orders Arotech MEHPS

  25th April 2016

  UEC Electronics, the US power systems division of Arotech, has been awarded a $2.6 million contract by the US Marine Corps (USMC) to design, develop …

• Training

  Kongsberg to Upgrade RDN Sims

  25th April 2016

  Once in service, a simulation system demands continuous support and enhancements to maintain their currency with the real platform. This can often include upgrades to …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  US aircraft carrier gets UAV C2 centre

  25th April 2016

  The USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), a US Navy Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, has been outfitted with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) command centre. This the …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Land 400 Phase 3 (Logistics, Ammunition Carrier and Mortar Carrier Variants) [Australia]

  Programme Background The Australian DoD released the initial RfI for the Land 400 Phase 3 programme in November 2015. Following consultations with local industry, the ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Land 400 Phase 3 (Amphibious Vehicles) [Australia]

  Programme Background The Australian DoD released the initial RfI for the Land 400 Phase 3 programme in November 2015. Following consultations with local industry, the ...

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - micro

  Drone40 (Ukraine Aid) [Australia]

  Programme Background In August 2022, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), a think tank, held a podcast with Ukraine's ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, in which ...

• Landing craft and hovercraft

  Littoral Manoeuvre Vessel - Medium (Project Land 8710 Phase 1A) [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirements Australia has set out requirements for a fleet of up to 18 Littoral Manoeuvre Vessels - Medium (LMV-M) with the release of ...

• Main battle tanks

  M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams [Poland]

  Programme Background Requirement Since the early 2010s Poland wanted to upgrade its Soviet-era tank fleet due to modernisation requirements, the need to increase interoperability with NATO ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Land 400 Phase 2 - Boxer CRV [Australia]

  Programme Background History The Land 400 Phase 2 programme will procure a replacement for the ASLAV, a derivative of the General Dynamics Land Systems Light Armoured Vehicle ...

• Main battle tanks

  Leopard 2A4 [Czech Republic]

  Programme Background  The Czech Republic currently operates a small fleet of T-72s, which, while undergoing upgrades and life extension programmes, are increasingly obsolete. In October ...

• Submarines: nuclear/attack

  Second Hand SSNs [Australia]

  Programme Background Timeline In September 2021, it was announced in a trilateral announcement between Australia, the US and the UK that Australia, in a shock ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | AUKUS-SSNs (1-5) [Australia]

  In September 2021, it was announced in a trilateral announcement between Australia, the US and the UK that Australia, in a shock move, will not ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | AUKUS-SSNs (1-5) [Australia]

  In September 2021, it was announced in a trilateral announcement between Australia, the US and the UK that Australia, in a shock move, will not ...

• Main battle tanks

  Viatura Blindada de Combate-Carro de Combate (VBC-CC) [Brazil]

  Programme Background Several key technical requirements have been outlined by the Brazilian MoD. Among the most important are that the platform should weigh less than ...

• Self-propelled rocket launchers

  HIMARS (Batch 2) [Australia]

  Programme background Prior to selecting HIMARS in January 2023, Australia did not operate an MLRS system. However, the effectiveness of Ukrainian HIMARS convinced the Australian government ...

• Military - USVs

  Bluebottle USV (16-55) [Australia]

  Programme Background Timeline The RAN purchased a number of the 6.8m-long Bluebottles, including five under an A$4.9 million ($3.3 million) contract signed in November 2022. ...

• Medium UGVs

  Mission Master (RPV Sprial 2) [UK]

  Background First announced in April 2017 and referred to in early MOD documents as the ‘last mile resupply’ initiative, the British Army is reportedly evaluating ...

• Main battle tanks

  M1A1 Abrams (Ukraine Aid) [Australia]

  Programme Background Since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Australia has been amongst the various Western allies providing Ukraine with military aid. Prior ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Crew-served assault/anti-tank weapons

  Carl-Gustaf M3

  The Carl-Gustaf M3 is the third generation of the 84mm shoulder-fired recoilless antitank gun, first fielded by the Swedish Army in 1946. Since then, it ...

• Unguided Tank Ammunition

  120mm KE DM63 / DM53 A1 Tank Ammunition

  The 120mm kinetic energy tank ammunition is manufactured by Rheinmetall. There are several variations of the ammunition, including the DM63, which can be fired from ...

• Unguided Tank Ammunition

  120MM HEAT-TP F1A

  Franco-German KNDS-Nexter produce the 120mm High-Explosive Anti-Tank Training-Purpose F1A (HEAT-TP F1A) round to enable reduced-cost training for Main Battle Tank crews. 

• Main battle tanks

  M1/M1A1 Abrams

  The 105mm-armed M1 Abrams tracked MBT was introduced into US Army service in 1980 as a replacement for the 105mm-armed M60 MBT. In April 1991, ...

• Unguided Tank Ammunition

  120mm PELE Tank Ammunition

  The 120mm Penetrator with Enhanced Lateral Effect (PELE) tank ammunition is an inert round produced by Rheinmetall. It is suitable for use against semi-hard targets ...

• Light mortars

  60mm Mortar Ammunition

  US-based LD Systems' 60mm Mortar ammunition fulfils the NATO standard for lightweight mortar ammunition.

• Crew-served assault/anti-tank weapons

  120mm L55A1

  The 120mm L55A1 is a smoothbore high-pressure gun based on the L55 tank gun. The L55A1 has been qualified and in service since 2019. It ...

• Naval: RF/IR/acoustic decoys

  Nulka

  The Nulka is an active anti-ship missile decoy originally conceived in Australia, and developed under a joint Australian-US programme. BAE Systems Australia is prime contractor, while ...

• Crew-served assault/anti-tank weapons

  120mm L55 Tank Gun

  The 120mm L55 is a smoothbore tank gun produced by Rheinmetall. It is designed for use on the Leopard main battle tank, to which it ...

• Main battle tanks

  M1A2 SEPv3

  The M1A2 System Enhancement Package 3 (M1A2 SEPv3, also known as M1A2C) is the latest production-standard variant of the Abrams MBT. Designed primarily to address ...

• Unguided Tank Ammunition

  M1147 Advanced Multi-Purpose (AMP)

  The M1147 Advanced Multi-Purpose (AMP) is a 120mm tank round developed by Northrop Grumman Defence Systems. Various customers, including Bahrain, Israel, and the US, use the tank ...

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  Next Generation Combat Vehicle Ammunition

  The Next Generation Combat Vehicle Ammunition (NGVA) is a family of ammunition being developed by the US Army's Armaments Center and manufactured by General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems ...

• Land: tactical engagement simulators

  CVTESS

  Saab's Combat Vehicle Tactical Engagement Simulation System (CVTESS) is a laser-based simulator which supports every version of the Abrams Main Battle Tank and the Bradley ...

• Submarines: nuclear/attack

  SSN AUKUS

  The SSN-AUKUS will be the submarine design resulting from the AUKUS trilateral pact between Australia, the US and the UK. Expected to incorporate technology from ...

• Crew-served assault/anti-tank weapons

  Spike LR2

  The Spike LR2 (also known as NT-S) is Rafael's fifth-generation anti-tank guided missile system. It is a long-range, multi-purpose, multi-platform weapon designed for infantry, armored ...