• Defence Notes

  COVID crisis should catalyse deeper cooperation, says EDA chief

  18th June 2020

  Jiří Šedivý officially took the helm at the European Defence Agency (EDA) in early May at a time of unprecedented crisis. With the COVID-19 pandemic set to …

• Special Operations

  SOF identifies logistics R&D priorities

  17th May 2020

  US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has developed a list of R&D; priorities to facilitate expeditionary logistics operations across future tactical environments. Several priority categories were …

• Land Warfare

  Indonesia bridges gaps in vehicle inventory

  14th May 2020

  Indonesia has received a third batch of M3 bridge and ferry systems, with three units being unloaded last week from a cargo ship at the …

• Defence Notes

  OCCAR delivers despite COVID-19 lockdowns

  5th May 2020

  The Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) has continued to meet several contract requirements, despite nationwide lockdowns in each of its six European member states …

• Digital Battlespace

  USAF nuke protection teams gain comms upgrade

  28th April 2020

  USAF security forces tasked with protecting nuclear weapons are receiving enhancements to their communications systems. On 8 April, Persistent Systems announced that it had received …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  CTTSO embraces counter-drone capabilities

  7th April 2020

  Reporting to the US Assistant Secretary of Defense Special Operations/Low-Intensity Conflict (ASD SO/LIC), the Combating Terrorism Technical Support Office (CTTSO) is tasked with identifying and developing …

• Digital Battlespace

  Waveform translation simplifies special forces communications

  3rd April 2020

  Joint terminal attack controllers (JTACs) have numerous tools at their disposal to communicate with aircraft overhead providing close air support (CAS). In recent years, US …

• Land Warfare

  Hensoldt to supply German Army with 368 IR attachments

  9th March 2020

  Hensoldt has been contracted by the German Army to deliver 368 IR attachment IRV 900 A2 systems with an option for 34 attachments. The company did …

• Digital Battlespace

  Japan wins order for Philippine air surveillance radars

  11th March 2020

  Japanese firm Mitsubishi Electric was issued a notice of award by the Philippines on 4 March to supply four radars to complete air surveillance coverage …

• Defence Notes

  Opinion: Can India escape the morass of bungled procurements?

  23rd January 2020

  With India hosting its biennial DefExpo exhibition early next month, in yet another new and inconvenient location, it is a timely reminder to consider the …

• Land Warfare

  Indonesian army presents its shopping list

  5th December 2019

  The Indonesian military operates on five-year procurement cycles, and Phase 3 of its modernisation programme will occur from 2020-24. As the Indonesian Army (TNI-AD) looks …

• Defence Notes

  ​Spanish shares increase non-starter for Airbus

  4th November 2019

  Manufacturer Airbus has officially confirmed that it will not offer the Spanish government an increased share in the company as a means to Madrid potentially …

• Land Warfare

  D&S 2019: Asia’s spending on tanks and IFVs grows to $55 billion

  20th November 2019

  Countries in the Asia-Pacific region will spend over $55 billion to procure new heavily armoured main battle tanks and IFVs by the end of the …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUSA 2019: MUTT gets a radio boost

  15th October 2019

  The Persistent Systems MPU5 radio has been installed on General Dynamics’s Multipurpose Unmanned Tactical Transport (MUTT) UGV as part of the latter’s Small Multipurpose Equipment …

• Digital Battlespace

  Commtact launches HiveComm data link family

  7th October 2019

  Wireless communications provider Commtact has launched its HiveComm datalink family, a suite of systems for use on air, sea and land platforms.  The family of …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• MPVs - 4x4

  Komodo (Indonesia)

  Programme Background Previous Orders The Indonesian Army (TNI-AD) has taken delivery of many Komodo 4x4 armoured vehicles since PT Pindad first unveiled the platform in ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Cobra IFV [Indonesia - Batch 2]

  Programme Background It is unclear how many different variants of the Cobra have been ordered by the TNI-AD, but it is thought that the majority ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Surplus M113 APC [Indonesia]

  Programme Background Between 2014 and 2017, the Indonesian Army (TNI-AD) received 125 surplus M113 tracked APCs from Belgium. These provide a cost-effective means to mechanise ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  JLTV (Batch 1) [Israel]

  Background Israel first procured the JLTV in November 2023, when it ordered 75 vehicles from Oshkosh. Before this, Israel primarily operated a fleet of older domestically ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  JLTV (Batch 2) [Israel]

  Background Israel first procured the JLTV in November 2023, when it ordered 75 vehicles from Oshkosh. Before this, Israel primarily operated a fleet of older domestically ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Boxer A2 [Germany]

  Background The first batch of Boxer A1 vehicles is also being upgraded to Boxer A2 standard under a 2017 contract awarded to ARTEC. Methodology Quantity ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  JLTV A2 [Canada]

  Background This programme comes amid uncertainty over both the JLTV and Canada's defence relationship with the US. A shadow was cast over the JLTV programme ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Cobra IFV [Indonesia]

  Programme Background It is unclear how many different variants of the Cobra have been ordered by the TNI-AD, but it is thought that the majority ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  AD(X) Destroyer Tenders [USN]

  Programme Background At Surface Navy 2026, General Dynamics NASSCO unveiled an internally developed concept, pitching a AD(X) Destroyer Tender to the USN. The destroyer tender ...

• Submarines: conventional/attack

  Submarines Procurement (1-2) [Greece]

  Background Requirements As of 2025, the Hellenic Navy (HN) submarine force consists of four Type 214, four Type 209/1200 and two Type 209/1100. With the ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Carrier-based Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) [French Navy]

  Background Carrier Air Wing plan The French Navy presented a broad plan for its Carrier Air Wing for the coming decades at a briefing during ...

• Patrol boats

  Mk VI Patrol Boat (7-8) [Ukraine]

  Background The Mk VI is described as the USN's next-generation patrol boat and is currently in service with the US Navy's Coastal Riverine Forces (CRF). The boats ...

• Patrol boats

  Mk VI Patrol Boat - Ukraine (9-16)

  Programme Background The Mk VI is described as the USN's next-generation patrol boat and is currently in service with the US Navy's Coastal Riverine Forces (CRF). The ...

• Patrol boats

  Mk VI Patrol Boat (1-6) [Ukraine]

  Background The Mk VI is described as the USN's next-generation patrol boat and is currently in service with the US Navy's Coastal Riverine Forces (CRF). The boats ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) [Sweden]

  Background CCA studies In May 2024, Saab revealed initial details of Sweden’s Konceptet Framtidens Stridsflyg (KFS), which translates to “a future fighter aircraft study.” The ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Guided munitions

  SmartGlider Heavy

  The SmartGlider Heavy is an advanced air-to-ground precision-guided munition developed by MBDA to address the challenges posed by modern anti-access and area-denial (A2/AD) environments. 

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Fearless MRSS

  Unveiled at Combined Naval Event (CNE) 2024, the Fearless design is Steller System's answer to the upcoming MRSS requirement of the Royal Navy. Fearless is ...

• Loitering munitions

  SkyShark

  SkyShark is a medium-range, high-speed One Way Effector (OWE) drone designed to deliver decisive strike capability at low cost and high volume. Engineered for autonomous ...

• Assault rifles/carbines/shotguns

  CZ 805 Bren A1/A2

  Česká zbrojovka developed the CZ 805 Bren A1 assault rifle and A2 carbine in 2006 to provide the Czech Armed Forces with a new weapon ...

• Anti-ship missiles

  Sea Breaker

  Sea Breaker is a precision-guided, long-range, autonomous missile system manufactured by Rafael. Debuted at DSEI 2021, the platform delivers pinpoint strikes from stand-off ranges up to 300km ...

• Military UAS - small

  FT-5 LOS

  The FT-5 LOS (the Moose), or FT5, is a short-range tactical UAV designed for EW, ISR and strike missions. It is capable of fully autonomous take-off and landing. The ...

• Unguided Tank Ammunition

  KE-W A2 Armor-Piercing, Fin-Stabilized, Discarding Sabot-Tracer (APFSDS-T)

  The KE-W A2 Armor-Piercing, Fin-Stabilized, Discarding Sabot-Tracer (APFSDS-T) is a 120mm tank round manufactured by General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems. 

• CUAS - interceptors

  AD-1 Inferno

  The German company Helsing has unveiled a jet-powered, ground-launched interceptor, the AD-1 Inferno. The missile is a container-launched, jet-powered interceptor capable of aerial loitering, swarming, ...

• CUAS - interceptors

  AD-2 Ambush

  The German company Helsing has unveiled a rocket-powered, ground-launched interceptor, the AD-2 Ambush. The missile is a container-launched, jet-powered interceptor capable of aerial loitering, swarming, ...

• Land: air defence radar

  ELM-2288 AD-STAR

  The ELM-2288 Advanced Air Defense, Surveillance, Threat Alert and Air Traffic Control Radar (AD-STAR) is a 3D solid-state long-range S-band family of transportable radars designed ...

• Heavy machine guns

  M2A2

  The US Ordnance 50cal M2A2 combines the performance of the venerable M2HB with upgrades such as fixed headspace and timing. This increases the level of ...

• Land: RWS

  Pitbull

  General Robotics developed the lightweight Pitbull family of remote weapons station for use on aerial, land and naval crewed or uncrewed platforms. Armed with a single ...

• Naval guns

  Seahawk LW

  The Seahawk LW naval gun is available in two configurations- the LW A1 and the LW A2. The Seahawk LW combines the Seahawk lightweight gun ...

• Air: chaff/flare/decoy systems

  Cirrus 118

  Cirrus 118 is a development of the DM69 A2 array flare, offering improved effectiveness, according to the company. It is designed to offer an aircraft-like ...

• CUAS - detectors

  Retinar FAR-AD Drone Detection Radar

  Retinar FAR-AD Drone Detection Radar, developed by Meteksan Defence, is a radar system to enable security against mini/micro unmanned aerial vehicles. Retinar FAR-AD can automatically ...