• Defence Notes

  Drones, C-UAS and air base investments top the list in $42 billion US-Qatar defence deal

  16th May 2025

  General Atomics Aeronautical Systems secured a nearly $2 billion deal for MQ-9B uncrewed aerial systems, while Raytheon’s counter-UAS system was secured for $1 billion.

• Naval Warfare

  Beyond GPS: How LEO satellites are changing the game in naval navigation

  10th October 2025

  Satellite navigation is increasingly critical for global maritime defence, and Low Earth Orbit satellites are rapidly overtaking the traditional and more widely used Medium Earth Orbit option as they are less susceptible to jamming or spoofing.

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy to invest more than $700 million in laser-related R&D efforts in FY2026

  26th January 2026

  The US Navy’s acceleration of its laser weapon development initiatives reflects a decisive shift towards ultimately having a “laser on every ship” across tomorrow’s surface fleet.

• Air Warfare

  Singapore investigates rotary-wing crewed-uncrewed teaming

  25th July 2025

  Initial exploration of helicopter crewed-uncrewed teaming capabilities will commence in late-2025 and could potentially help shape future programmes involving launched effects.

• Land Warfare

  Rafael to unveil new Iron Beam laser director at Paris Air Show

  4th June 2025

  Israel has a substantial air defence system which includes Iron Dome and David’s Sling but laser systems will allow lower cost intercepts for short ranges against smaller threats.

• Air Warfare

  New UAVs: is the right capability being procured for the British Army?

  26th May 2025

  Following the retirement of Watchkeeper from the UK Armed Forces, what drone capabilities will be next sought as a replacement?

• Naval Warfare

  Will the US be able to make its shipbuilding industry “great again”?

  9th May 2025

  The White House and Congress have been increasing efforts to support the national maritime industry.

• Defence Notes

  France unveils new strategic review as Macron vows to accelerate defence spend

  15th July 2025

  The 2025 National Strategic Review highlights the importance of readiness against a growing Russian threat and was published days after a speech from the French President Macron who called for an increase in defence spending worth €6.5 billion by 2027.

• Land Warfare

  UK and US militaries advance mobile directed energy weapon systems

  4th February 2025

  Recent tests have demonstrated how the UK and US armed forces have been scaling DEWs for mobile field-based operations.

• Air Warfare

  How the US Air Force plans to use data analytics to enhance the roles of airmen and assets

  27th November 2025

  The USAF has allocated nearly US$500 million to further the deployment of this type of technology in FY2026. It envisions using analytics to enhance sensors, weapons, missiles and human performance.

• Air Warfare

  October Drone Digest: Growing desire for CCAs and new VTOL technology unveiled

  30th October 2025

  During October 2025, several countries and organisations signalled their intention to acquire loyal wingman uncrewed aircraft systems — designated by the US Air Force as Collaborative Combat Aircraft — or to study the capability further, while various new uncrewed helicopters were showcased.

• Air Warfare

  Applied Intuition takes aim at major air combat programmes with UK expansion

  14th August 2025

  The autonomous software company’s new UK subsidiary is the latest in a line of businesses poised to expand and offer its services to the UK Ministry of Defence and industry, as the country invests more in AI and autonomous technology to deliver the next generation of uncrewed systems.

• Naval Warfare

  Royal Canadian Navy’s final Harry DeWolf-class vessel to be delivered this summer

  9th June 2025

  The sixth Canada’s Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship is currently at the final stages of construction within Irving Shipbuilding.

• Land Warfare

  Israel brings down drones using a laser, claiming operational first

  29th May 2025

  The announced successful deployment of a prototype laser foreshadows Rafael Advanced Defense Systems’ plans to begin rolling out versions of its Iron Beam laser, beginning later this year.

• Land Warfare

  Beyond Survivability: How Active Protection Systems Are Empowering Commanders (Podcast)

  20th August 2025

  As threats diversify and intensify, APS are proving essential not just for vehicle protection but also for enhancing operational freedom, effectiveness and mission success in contested environments.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Main battle tanks

  Hungary Leopard 2A4 MBT

  Programme Background The Hungarian Army is in desperate need of new NATO-standard military equipment to replace its ageing Soviet platforms. Approximately 80 T-72M1 MBTs are ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  Hürkuş-C Advanced Armed Trainer (Turkey)

  The Hurjet-C development programme funding was included in the Hurkus-B procurement contract awarded by  the Turkish Undersecretariat for Defence Industries in December 2013.  The Hurjet will ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  IAR-99 Replacement (Romania)

  On 29 August 2017, Leonardo announced that the IAR-99 trainer technology demonstrator (TD) will be fitted with company's Vixen 500E AESA radar. The Vixen 500E AESA ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Sherpa Light [Kuwait]

  Programme Background According to data compiled by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the first 150 Sherpa Lights from this contract were delivered to ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Secure Personnel Transport Vehicle [Colombia - Forecast]

  Programme Background Colombia is understood to have a requirement for as many as 100 APCs capable of carrying up to 20 troops and protecting their ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Secure Personnel Transport Vehicle [Colombia]

  Programme Background Colombia is understood to have a requirement for as many as 100 APCs capable of carrying up to 20 troops and protecting their ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Paraguay VAMTAC ST5

  Programme Background Paraguay's Joint Task Force is in need of new armoured vehicles that can provide sufficient protection against the small arms, mines and IEDs ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Tur-K3 6x6 Light Armoured Vehicle [Bangladesh]

  Programme Background Prior to 2010, the Bangladesh Armed Forces and police operated few light armoured vehicles able to protect against small arms fire and mine ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Tur-K2 4x4 Light Armoured Vehicle [Bangladesh]

  Programme Background Prior to 2010, the Bangladesh Armed Forces and police operated few light armoured vehicles able to protect against small arms fire and mine ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Titan-B

  Programme Background Colombia is understood to have a requirement for as many as 100 APCs capable of carrying up to 20 troops and protecting their ...

• Main battle tanks

  Leopard 2A7HU [Hungary]

  Programme Background The Hungarian Army is in desperate need of new NATO-standard military equipment to replace its ageing Soviet platforms. Approximately 80 T-72M1 MBTs are ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Su-25K Replacement Sudan

  The UN Security Council imposed an open-ended arms sale embargo to the Sudan in 2004 and it is likely to continue in the coming years, ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Typhoon Tranche 3A [Saudi Arabia]

  Programme Background Timeline In June 2018, Saudi Arabia agreed to procure 48 Eurofighter Typhoon multirole fighter aircraft from BAE. However, Germany's defence export ban to ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  FPV Drones [Israel]

  Background Reported Programme According to the Globes media outlet, reporting in March 2025, the Ministry of Defense Department of Production and Procurement was publishing the ...

• Patrol boats

  Project 22160 - Russia

  Programme Background Project 22160 is a new type of patrol ship in production for the Russian Navy. The new form of combat unit designed by ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Land: range systems and targets

  Thermal Shot

  The Thermal Shot live-fire virtual targetry system enables immersive live-fire training throughout Laser Shot’s line of training platforms. Thermal Shot-equipped systems provide training on virtual ...

• Virtual Immersive Training Systems

  Cubic provides a full range of virtual training devices to military, public safety and commercial customers worldwide. Cubic focuses on the development and systems integration ...

• Land: infantry weapon simulators

  Small Arms Trainer

  Meggitt manufactures the FATS line of simulators used by the US Army, USMC, USAF, USN, USCG, British Army, Australian Army and other military and government ...

• Land: infantry weapon simulators

  Small Arms Training Simulator

  The Small Arms Training Simulator provides effective and safe shooting training for up to 12 trainees simultaneously, without ammunition consumption. The simulated weapon matches the ...

• Land: infantry weapon simulators

  Sagittarius Evolution

  The Sagittarius Evolution provides small arms marksmanship training, from pistols to grenade launchers and guided weapons. Using CryEngine simulation technology, it has both virtual and ...

• Subsystems: visual

  ExpeditionDI

  The ExpeditionDI is a man-worn, fully immersive, turnkey team simulation solution for infantry simulation and training. It provides an open architecture platform for integrating simulation ...

• Data links

  Ultra Tropo

  The Tactical Transportable TROPO (tropospheric scatter radio) (3T) provides long-haul, high-bandwidth, low-latency communications, giving users BLoS capability in a small, flyaway VSAT system. 3T is ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  DarkWing VSAT

  L3Harris DarkWing is a small form factor, lightweight, flat-panel Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT). It is designed to fit in a backpack or laptop-sized case, allowing ...

• Land: infantry weapon simulators

  SAVIT

  The Small Arms Virtual Indoor Trainer (SAVIT) is a modular system that can be combined in several configurations depending on customer requirements and training objectives. ...

• Land: fire support simulators

  I-FACT

  Meggitt's Indirect Fire Forward Air Control Trainer (I-FACT) supports training for forward observers, naval gunfire observers, fire support planning and joint tactical close air support. ...

• Land: infantry weapon simulators

  EST 2000

  The Engagement Skills Trainer (EST) 2000 – described as the US Army’s only validated marksmanship trainer – teaches individual marksmanship skills, squad-level collective defence and ...

• Assault rifles/carbines/shotguns

  L85A2 IW

  The L85A2 Individual Weapon (IW) is the assault rifle member of the SA80 5.56x45mm bullpup small arms family originally designed by the Royal Small Arms ...

• Light machine guns

  L86A2 LSW

  The L86A2 Light Support Weapon (LSW) is the fire team support variant of the SA80 5.56x45mm bullpup small arms family originally designed by the Royal ...

• Subsystems: software

  Virtual Combat OutPost Tool

  The Virtual Combat OutPost (VCOP) Tool was developed by SDS for the US Army Natick Soldier Research Development and Engineering Center to allow users to ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  Virtual Cockpit v3.0

  Virtual Cockpit v3.0 integrates all flight sensors, communication and payload interfaces into a light, small package.