• Training

  US, Japan conduct joint training

  4th March 2016

  Units from the US Navy conducted a Fleet Synthetic Training-Joint (FST-J) exercise with Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) units in February, the US Navy announced …

• Land Warfare

  Alcoa to lighten combat vehicles

  4th March 2016

  Alcoa has received a five-year contract from the US Army for research and development (R&D) projects involving the development of lightweight solutions for ground combat …

• Training

  Fox TMS Goes Live

  4th March 2016

  Training is not just about the provision of synthetic training equipment and classrooms. To operate a fully functioning training capability demands careful planning and management. …

• Military Logistics

  Second KC-46A takes flight

  4th March 2016

  Boeing has conducted the first flight of the second KC-46A tanker aircraft, it announced on 3 March. The flight took off from Paine Field and …

• Land Warfare

  Russia tests Armata

  4th March 2016

  An experimental batch of Armata T-14 MBTs and new T-15 IFVs are set to be taken on strength by the Russian Land Forces from 2017 …

• Land Warfare

  Russian IFV producer faces bankruptcy

  4th March 2016

  Kurganmashzavod, which is Russia's only producer of infantry fighting vehicles, may declare bankruptcy in the coming weeks, due to financial problems. Sources close to the …

• Training

  ROCAF Invests in F-16 MTC

  4th March 2016

  The Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF) is currently undergoing a period of turmoil with budgetary pressures and political intervention from the People’s Republic of …

• Land Warfare

  GD to produce M&P pistol barrels

  3rd March 2016

  General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems has received a multi-year contract from Smith & Wesson to manufacture and supply hammer forged, military-grade gun barrels for …

• Military Logistics

  Australia aims for new ammo

  3rd March 2016

  The Australian Army is seeking new 155mm ammunition for its howitzers according to an RfT released on 26 February. The Future Artillery Ammunition (FAA) requirement …

• Defence Helicopter

  Heli-Expo 2016: Era Group considers AW609 for EMS

  2nd March 2016

  Era Group is working with Finmeccanica Helicopter Division to further develop the AW609 tiltrotor for EMS missions, following the signing of an agreement at Heli-Expo. …

• Defence Notes

  Rheinmetall automatic cannon for Gripen

  2nd March 2016

  Rheinmetall is to equip Gripen NG fighter aircraft with the BK27 automatic cannon featuring a new linkless ammunition feeding system, under a contract announced by …

• Defence Helicopter

  Heli-Expo 2016: Vector introduces new crash-resistant fuel tank

  2nd March 2016

  Vector Aerospace has presented a new crash-resistant fuel tank retrofit solution for the AS350 and EC130. The design for the fuel tank was in co-operation with Robertson …

• Defence Helicopter

  Thai army buys, and eyes, Russian helicopters

  2nd March 2016

  The Royal Thai Army (RTA) received two Mil Mi-17V-5 helicopters in late 2015, boosting its inventory to five. Furthermore, it plans to buy more to …

• Digital Battlespace

  DLS gets MIDS JTRS Lot 4 award

  2nd March 2016

  Data Link Solutions (DLS) will supply the Multifunctional Information Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio System (MIDS JTRS) to US and coalition forces under a $51.8 …

• Digital Battlespace

  PAR receives cyber R&D contract

  2nd March 2016

  PAR Government Systems, a PAR Technology subsidiary, has been awarded a three-year, six-month $3.4 million cyber research and development contract by the US Air Force …

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 ...