• Defence Helicopter

  LIMA 2015: Boeing comes out fighting with AH-6i

  18th March 2015

  Boeing is squaring up to challengers in the light attack helicopter market by pointing to the key differentiators of the AH-6i that the company believes …

• Defence Notes

  LIMA 2015: Defence minister prioritises security operations in Sabah

  18th March 2015

  Speaking aboard the frigate KD Jebat on the eve of LIMA 2015, Malaysian defence minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein told Shephard, ‘I am concerned,’ …

• Digital Battlespace

  Harris announces Middle East radio order

  17th March 2015

  Harris Corporation has been awarded a $47 million order to supply wideband radio systems to a Middle East nation, the company announced on 13 March. …

• Digital Battlespace

  NATO AWACS flies with modernised flight deck

  17th March 2015

  Boeing has successfully completed the first flight of a NATO Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft with a modernised flight deck and avionics systems, …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Euro Hawk sensor nears test flight

  17th March 2015

  More details have emerged about the contract modification issued by the German defence ministry in January which re-started the stalled Euro Hawk programme.  The project, …

• Defence Helicopter

  Netherlands beefs up its Apaches

  17th March 2015

  The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) has developed a new set of modifications and operational techniques to turn its AH-64D Apaches into an ISTAR platform …

• Military Logistics

  Hesco tests new flood barrier solution

  17th March 2015

  Hesco’s new Jackbox flood barrier has undergone a second round of testing at the Tees Barrage white-water rafting facility, to test the system’s ability to …

• Digital Battlespace

  Five US Navy E-2D Hawkeyes set for maiden deployment

  17th March 2015

  A total of five E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes have been assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, Northrop Grumman announced on 12 March. The five …

• Naval Warfare

  LIMA 2015: Fincanteri sizes up Aussie frigate programme amid Asia expansion

  17th March 2015

  Italian shipbuilder Fincanteri is eyeing up the SEA 5000 Future Frigate programme in Australia that will replace the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN’s) eight ANZAC-class frigates. …

• Naval Warfare

  LIMA 2015: Saab on standby for SEA 1000

  17th March 2015

  Although outside of Australia’s SEA 1000 submarine replacement programme, Saab Kockums is waiting to make a competitive bid. Gunilla Fransson, senior VP and head of …

• Military Logistics

  RAF C-17 joins Cyclone Pam relief effort

  16th March 2015

  A Royal Air Force C-17 transport aircraft has departed from RAF Brize Norton bound for Royal Australian Air Force base at Amberley in Australia as …

• Defence Helicopter

  LIMA 2015: Airbus Helicopters selected for Korean LCH, LAH programme

  16th March 2015

  Airbus Helicopters has been selected to team with Korea Aerospace Industries for the development of South Korea’s Light Civil Helicopter (LCH) and Light Armed Helicopter …

• Military Logistics

  US to modify UK airdrop platform

  16th March 2015

  The US Army is interested in domestically sourcing energy-dissipating airbags for use on the UK’s Medium Stressed Platform (MSP) cargo aerial delivery platform. The airbags …

• Naval Warfare

  LIMA 2015: MMEA receives shot in the arm with donated Australian vessel

  14th March 2015

  The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) is a key partner in the LIMA show series, and it puts on dynamic sea-based displays in the waters …

• Land Warfare

  Orbital to continue PGK production for US

  13th March 2015

  Orbital ATK has signed a contract worth $120 million for additional production of the Precision Guidance Kit (PGK) with the US Army for 155mm artillery, …

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 ...