• Land Warfare

  Leopard finds home in Indonesia

  27th May 2016

  The first eight Leopard 2 RI main battle tanks (MBT) reached Indonesian shores in May. With ‘RI’ denoting the Republic of Indonesia, these vehicles taken …

• Defence Notes

  UDT 2016: DCNS eyes Ula replacement

  25th May 2016

  French defence company DCNS has their eyes on the proposed plan by the Norwegian MoD to replace their Ula-class diesel electric boats with new boats. …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Saab North America launches Sea Wasp

  19th May 2016

  After prior display at various exhibitions, Saab North America used the Sea-Air-Space 2016 event to ‘officially’ launch its Sea Wasp underwater anti-IED robot. Sea Wasp …

• Land Warfare

  Bundeswehr to stop personnel decline

  18th May 2016

  German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen has announced an end to the downward trend in Bundeswehr personnel strength since the end of the Cold …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Saab delivers Sea Wasp prototypes

  18th May 2016

  Saab has delivered prototypes of its Sea Wasp remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to three US Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) agencies, the company announced on 16 …

• Training

  ITEC 2016: Robotic arm aids immersive sim (video)

  17th May 2016

  German company BEC Motion Simulators is showcasing a unique simulator system that utilises technology from industrial robotics.  Shephard caught up with the company on the …

• Training

  ITEC 2016: Airbus UAS trainer ready to fly

  17th May 2016

  Airbus Defence and Space (DS) is showcasing its customer-ready UAS Mission and Tactics Training (MTT) at ITEC in London. The generic system can be used …

• Training

  ITEC 2016: Visual upgrades continue at MSHATF

  17th May 2016

  In the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR), the UK MoD stated that it wanted to conduct 50% of its future training in the …

• Training

  US, Germany conduct Operation Sharp Griffin

  13th May 2016

  US and German armed forces underwent training on multiple complex situations at the multinational Operation Sharp Griffin training exercise, it was announced in early May. The exercise …

• Land Warfare

  South Korea wants more K2

  13th May 2016

  In the face of ongoing North Korean belligerence, South Korea’s military is seeking to lodge an order for 100 additional Hyundai Rotem K2 main battle …

• Land Warfare

  ADMM-Plus shows counterterrorism resolve

  10th May 2016

  In a major show of cooperation, special forces representing 15 nations from the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) performed a counterterrorism exercise in Singapore …

• Land Warfare

  Rheinmetall books Puma ammo orders

  5th May 2016

  Rheinmetall has booked a series of orders worth over $13.85 million for ammunition for the Puma infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) of the German armed forces, …

• Training

  Germany orders laser duel simulators

  4th May 2016

  Rheinmetall will supply the German Army Combat Training Centre with new equipment for staging combat training exercises under an order worth $23 million announced on …

• Defence Helicopter

  First H145Ms handed over to Thai navy

  2nd May 2016

  The first two of five H145M helicopters have been handed over to the Royal Thai Navy by Airbus Helicopters, the company announced on 29 April.  …

• Defence Helicopter

  Quad A 2016: Lakota FMS efforts stepped up

  28th April 2016

  With end of production on the horizon for the US Army's UH-72A Lakota, Airbus Helicopters Inc (AHI) is redoubling efforts to find international customers for …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - mini

  X10D (Airman’s toolkit) [USAF]

  Background November 2025 contract award Skydio announced in November 2025 that the USAF had awarded it two initial multi-million dollar contract awards to acquire the ...

• Light UGVs

  L3 Harris T7 [USA]

  Programme Background  In 2021 and 2022 the US Air Force ordered over 107 L3Harris T7 EOD UGVs to replace its 20 year old fleet of ...

• Military UAS - mini

  X10D (Base defence) [USAF]

  Background Contract award On 8 April 2026, Skydio announced that it had been awarded a $9 million contract by the US Air Forces Central (USAFCENT), the air component ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  VAMTAC ST5 (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) [Spain]

  Background The VAMTAC ST5 is already in Spanish service with the Spanish Army, Navy, and Air Force in various configurations. In June 2025, the Spanish ...

• Military UAS - micro

  Render Safe Sets, Kits & Outfits (RS SKO) (UAV) [US]

  Programme Background Definition The RS SKO provides capabilities needed for Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams to render safe US and foreign ordnance and improvised explosive ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  VTMM 2 [Italy]

  Background The Italian Army has a requirement for 633 VTMMs, known as the Orso (Bear) in Italian service. These will be used to perform specialised ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Puma IFV (Batch 3) [Germany]

  Background The contract award for Germany's second batch of Pumas was originally scheduled for 2021, following the final deliveries of Germany's first batch. However, in April ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Tornado Replacement (F-35A) [Germany]

  Background Requirement In March 2020, it emerged that the German government was considering  30 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets to replace 45 nuclear-capable Tornados. The remaining 40 Tornados ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Puma IFV [Germany]

  Background The SPD-led approach Since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Germany has been under consistent pressure to increase its defence spending. In the immediate ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Vector / Scorpion (Ukraine Aid) [Germany]

  Programme Background German Enablement Initiative On 18 April 2024, Quantum-Systems announced that German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck and Ukrainian Minister of Strategic Industry Alexander Kamyshin had opened the ...

• Hybrid effector systems

  Skyranger 30 [Germany]

  Background The SPD-led approach Since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Germany has been under consistent pressure to increase its defence spending. In the immediate ...

• Military UAS - small

  Zielplan Marine 2035+ (Rotary-Wing UAVs) [Germany]

  Background Zieplan Marine 2035+ Chancellor Olaf Scholz said at the 2022 Bundeswehr Conference that Germany must become the "cornerstone of conventional defence in Europe". To ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Boxer (Heavy Weapons Infantry Carrier) [Germany]

  Background The German Army is believed to require a total of 43 Boxer Heavy Weapons Infantry Carriers to equip its Division 2027. 36 of these ...

• Main battle tanks

  Leopard 2A8 [Germany]

  Background The SPD-led approach Since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Germany has been under consistent pressure to increase its defence spending. In the immediate ...

• Submarines: conventional/attack

  Type 212CD (1-2) [Germany]

  Background Norway selected TKMS as the shipbuilder for its new class of Type 212CD submarines to replace the six Ula-class SSKs currently in service. TKMS ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• MPVs - 4x4

  Shrek

  The Shrek is an MRAP vehicle developed by the Streit Group in collaboration with the Ukrainian Kremenchug Automotive Plant (KrAZ). It is available in three ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  DURO IIIP

  The DURO IIIP (also known as the GMTF) 6x6 is a protected, mobile off-road armoured vehicle based on the DURO (Durable, Robust) family of 4x4 ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Fuchs 1

  Spanning now 8 variants, the Fuchs 1 is the German Army's longstanding wheeled armoured personnel carrier. The army received 1,125 Fuchs, with most delivered between 1979-86. ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  German HFTS

  Helicopter Flight Training Services (HFTS) was founded by the consortium of CAE, Airbus Helicopters, Thales and Rheinmetall Defence Electronics. Each company owns a 25% share ...

• Land: UGV simulators

  Remote Controlled Vehicle Simulation

  The Remote Controlled Vehicle Simulation is designed for users such as EOD forces.  Key features: use of original control devices; PC-based VR simulation; multiple scenarios ...

• Military - UUVs

  Bluefin-HAUV

  The Bluefin Hovering AUV (HAUV) is a two-man system used for ship hull and infrastructure inspection, port and harbour security and MCM. Operators are able ...

• Light UGVs

  Oto-TRP7-HS

  The Oto-TRP7-HS (Homeland Security) is a semi-autonomous, electric-powered, tracked UGV. It is designed to undertake a number of homeland security missions. 

• Land: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  Manpack-6 Bomb Ranger

  Manpack-6 is a portable jamming system that can be carried by a person in areas where there is a risk of encountering remoted controlled improvised ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Eagle V 6x6

  GDELS unveiled the fifth generation of its Eagle light tactical vehicle in both 4x4 and 6x6 models at Eurosatory 2012. The Eagle V has replaced ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Eagle V 4x4

  GDELS unveiled the fifth generation of its Eagle light tactical vehicle at Eurosatory 2012. The platform has replaced earlier-generation vehicles in production. More than 1,250 ...

• Light UGVs

  Zeus

  NIC Instruments' Zeus UGV is a development of its First Responder (see separate entry) platform and was unveiled at Milipol Paris in November 2017. The company ...

• EO/IR systems

  Gyrocam 15DHD

  Gyrocam 15DHD is a 15in dual system that delivers HD and mid-wave thermal optics, in a modular payload that supports ISR missions. The 15DHD features ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  MPV/GFF 4

  Iveco Defence Vehicles cooperated with KMW to develop the Medium Protected Vehicle (MPV). This vehicle is designed to have sufficient payload, protection, capacity and mobility to ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Varan

  Streit unveiled the Varan 6x6 amphibious armoured vehicle at the IDEX defence exhibition in February 2013. The vehicle can be fitted with additional ballistic protection ...

• Light UGVs

  Vanguard

  The Vanguard UGV is designed to provide mission support for EOD technicians in both law enforcement and the military. It can be deployed in EOD/IED ...