• Defence Notes

  US envoy Pompeo tackles NATO on spending

  27th April 2018

  US President Donald Trump's brand new Secretary of State Mike Pompeo came to NATO on 27 April to hammer home one of his boss's oldest …

• Digital Battlespace

  Canada awards quantum technology study contract

  17th April 2018

  The Canadian Department of National Defence (DND) has awarded $2.7 million contract to the Institute for Quantum Computing at the University of Waterloo to study …

• Defence Notes

  Taiwan stresses Central America ties with navy visit

  10th April 2018

  A Taiwanese navy flotilla docked in Nicaragua on 9 April in a high-profile visit highlighting ties with Central America and the Caribbean that are shrinking …

• Defence Notes

  US defence chief Mattis has 'no reservations' about Bolton

  27th March 2018

  US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said 27 March he had 'no reservations' about working with John Bolton, the controversial hawk named by President Donald Trump …

• Defence Notes

  Trump vows to deploy military to Mexican border

  4th April 2018

  US President Donald Trump on 3 April vowed to deploy the military to secure the US's southern border, as a caravan of Central American migrants …

• Defence Helicopter

  US agrees guided missile sale to Qatar

  9th April 2018

  The United States approved a deal to sell Qatar $300 million in guided missiles on 9 April, on the eve of President Donald Trump's White …

• Defence Helicopter

  Insight: Latin spirit for helicopter footprints

  4th April 2018

  The South American region is one as rich in opportunities as any other for helicopter manufacturers and while political disruptions can affect defence procurement, civil …

• Naval Warfare

  Babcock floats Irish OPV

  10th April 2018

  Babcock has floated the future LÉ George Bernard Shaw, the fourth offshore patrol vessel (OPV) for the Irish Naval Service, the company announced on 6 …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Cellula Robotics receives AUV fuel cell contract

  11th April 2018

  The Canadian Department of National Defence has awarded a contract to Cellula Robotics to develop a fuel cell that will improve the ability for AUVs …

• Defence Notes

  Two South Korea pilots feared dead in fighter crash

  5th April 2018

  A South Korean military fighter jet crashed on 5 April, apparently killing both pilots on board, a Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) spokesman said. …

• Special Operations

  US Army conducts GMV 1.1 airdrop tests

  10th April 2018

  The US Army is carrying out low-velocity airdrop testing of the Ground Mobility Vehicle 1.1 (GMV 1.1) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, the army announced …

• Defence Notes

  MDA hopeful of missile defence investment boost

  18th April 2018

  The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is hoping for additional dollars to bolster directed energy and hypersonic weapons development, as well as space-based sensors to detect …

• Defence Notes

  US consults partners ahead of Syria withdrawal

  7th April 2018

  The US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said 6 April that the military is talking with Kurdish partners and others in Syria to resolve questions over …

• Naval Warfare

  USCG Sentinel class continues to grow

  4th April 2018

  The US Coast Guard has received its latest fast response cutter (FRC), Nathan Bruckenthal, in Key West, Florida, on 29 March.This is the 28th FRC …

• Land Warfare

  Russia slams Poland's 'militarisation' after Patriot missile deal

  3rd April 2018

  Russia on 29 March condemned what it called Poland's ‘progressive militarisation’ after Warsaw said recently it had signed a deal on buying a US Patriot …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Self-propelled guns

  Mobile Tactical Cannon [US]

  Background The US Army began using the M777 in 1995. Since then, it has served as a field artillery piece providing fire support for American ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  MCH-101 [Japan]

  Programme Background At the time of the 2023 signing , Japan had a fleet of 10 MCH-101s and three CH-101.The KHI MCH-101 helicopter is a version ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  Hurkus C [Niger]

  Programme Background  In late April 2021, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) President and CEO Temel Kotil claimed in an interview with CNN Turk TV that an export customer for ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-5 Replacement [Mexico]

  Background  Mexico's last fighter aircraft capability rested with their fleet of eight F-5E and two F-5F Tiger IIs platforms from Northrop Grumman; the units were retired ...

• Man-portable missile systems

  Mistral 3 [North Macedonia]

  Background North Macedonia signed a contract for the procurement of Mistral 3 short-range air defence systems. The systems will modernise the Army and are expected ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Light Protected Mobility Vehicle (Phase 1) [North Macedonia]

  Background The acquisition of an LPMV to equip the North Macedonian Armed Forces' Light Infantry Battalion Group (LIBG) is considered the most urgent priority for the ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Stryker [North Macedonia]

  Background In its Long-Term Defence Capabilities Development Plan (LTDCDP) published in 2019, the North Macedonian MoD outlined plans to acquire Light Armoured Vehicles (LAVs) to ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  AW169M [North Macedonia]

  Background Bids and suppliers Prior to Leonardo's award of the North Macedonian contract, Airbus, Lockheed Martin and Bell Helicopters had all put in bids for ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  AW149 [North Macedonia]

  Background Bids and suppliers Prior to Leonardo's award of the North Macedonian contract, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, and Bell Helicopters had all put bids in for ...

• Military UAS - small

  Tactical UAVs [North Macedonia]

  Background European Peace Facility (EPF) The EPF, established in 2021, operates separately from the EU budget. Between 2021 and 2027, the EPF has a financial ...

• Military UAS - small

  Small Surveillance Drones [Denmark]

  Background Second Agreement on the Arctic and North Atlantic In October 2025, Denmark, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland announced the second agreement of the Arctic and ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) [Netherlands]

  Background Dutch and American collaboration On 16 October 2025, the Dutch MoD announced a Letter of Intent (LOI) had been signed to join the USAF’s ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  MQ-9B SkyGuardian [Denmark]

  Background Arctic Capability Package In February 2021, Denmark published the Arctic Capability package, a commitment to invest in new technologies, particularly uncrewed systems, to improve surveillance ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Stryker [Greece]

  Background The Greek Army currently operates a number of outdated vehicles, the majority of which are older American platforms like the M113. As part of ...

• Military UAS - small

  Air-Launched Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (ALUAV) [India]

  Background  Origins The development programme has its origins in the US-India Defence Technology and Trade Initiative signed between the nations in 2006 and renewed in 2015. This ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Major networking projects

  BCS

  Battle Control System (BCS) is a USAF Acquisition Category 1 major automated information system programme that provides air sovereignty C2 for the North American Aerospace ...

• Major networking projects

  BCS-F

  Battle Control System-Fixed (BCS-F) is a replacement for the fixed sites for the Region/Sector Air Operations Center, also known as Region Air Operations Center-Air Defense ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  TW-860 TSM Sprit

  TrellisWare TW-860 is a MANET-capable software-defined radio designed specifically for body wearable applications. It provides voice and data connectivity in a small form factor, featuring ...

• Light UGVs

  PackBot

  PackBot, previously designated 510 PackBot, is a tracked, tactical, mobile UGV with forward-articulated flippers that can perform multiple missions. PackBot is being delivered to customers ...

• Land: air defence radar

  JLENS

  The Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System (JLENS), often referred to as the "Spy Balloon", was a tethered aerial detection system ...

• Frigates

  GMF 140

  The GMF 140 is a concept frigate designed by Rheinmetall Naval Systems. It is initially being marketed towards North American procurement as a next-generation integrated air ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  TW-135 TSM Shadow

  TrellisWare TW-135 is a MANET-capable, high-power radio designed for manpack, vehicular, fixed-site and airborne applications. Marketed as a networking radio, it provides high-speed voice, video ...

• Ultra-light UGVs

  FirstLook

  The Endeavor Robotics (now FLIR Systems) FirstLook is a tracked, compact, rugged, expendable and lightweight robot that provides situational awareness, performs persistent observation and investigates ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Saetlbyol-9

  North Korea unveiled two drones at the 2023 Weapons and Equipment Exhibition in Pyongyang on 2 August 2023. One drone, the Saetlbyol-9, or Morning Star-9,  ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Predator XP

  The Predator XP is an updated unarmed version of the original Predator UAV that the US government has licensed for sale to a broader customer ...

• Fighter - ground attack, ISR/special mission

  Hürkuş-C

  The Hürkuş-C is a light attack and reconnaissance aircraft developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries based on the Hürkuş trainer to meet the requirements of the ...

• Trainer

  T-34 Mentor

  The T-34 Mentor is a trainer aircraft developed by Beechcraft (now Raytheon) to meet the requirements of the USAF and USN to replace the North American ...

• Loitering munitions

  PS Killer (PSK)

  The PS Killer (PSK) is a throw-and-forgot loitering munition developed by an American startup, XDOWN.  Uniquely, the system is shaped like a size 7 American football and is ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F/A-18A/B

  The F/A-18 Hornet A and B aircraft, or F-18A/B ('CF-18' in Canada and 'EF-18' in Spain), were the first models in the USN’s line of ...

• Surface-to-surface missiles

  Hwasong-7 (Nodong-1)

  The Hwasong-7 is a North Korean tactical ballistic missile based on the Hwasong-6. It has the NATO reporting name Scud D. It was designed with ...