• Military Logistics

  Upgraded Gotland sub delivered

  11th December 2015

  Saab has redelivered a Gotland-class submarine to the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) after performing general overhaul and upgrades, the company announced on 10 December.  …

• Defence Notes

  Aegis Ashore completes live fire intercept test

  11th December 2015

  The US Navy, Lookheed Martin and the Missile Defense Agency have successfully conducted the first live fire intercept test of Aegis Ashore, with a ballistic …

• Defence Helicopter

  Japan’s SH-X merits internal investigation

  11th December 2015

  The Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) had planned that development of its next-generation SH-X naval multipurpose helicopter would occur from 2015-20. However, Defence Minister Gen …

• Military Logistics

  USAF begins Airbus tanker testing

  10th December 2015

  The US Air Force has begun refuelling trials on the A330 multi-role tanker transport (MRTT) as part of efforts to fully certify its fleet to …

• Naval Warfare

  SM-3 Block IIA completes second flight test

  10th December 2015

  The US Navy and Missile Defense Agency (MDA) have successfully conducted the second flight test of Raytheon’s Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IIA, the company announced …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Zephyr could fit data link solution

  9th December 2015

  The Zephyr high altitude pseudo satellite (HAPS) is ‘an obvious candidate’ for a new high altitude cellular communications technology being developed by Roke Manor Research …

• Defence Helicopter

  Airbus Helicopters delivers German H145Ms

  9th December 2015

  Airbus Helicopters has delivered the first two H145M military multi-role helicopters to the German armed forces, the company announced on 8 December.  The helicopters will be …

• Defence Helicopter

  Russia strengthens support for Egyptian helicopters

  9th December 2015

  Russian Helicopters will retool its repair base located in Heluane, Egypt to provide after-sales services and maintenance to its helicopters operated by the Egyptian Air …

• Land Warfare

  NZ Army modernisation continues

  9th December 2015

  The New Zealand government has confirmed the acquisition of new Lewis Machine & Tool (LMT) assault rifles in an announcement on 8 December. Some 8,800 of …

• Training

  Team 21 success in Australia

  8th December 2015

  The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has signed a contract worth A$1.2 billion ($880 million) with Lockheed Martin to provide a new Pilot Training System as part …

• Defence Helicopter

  Boeing completes Chinook Mk6 deliveries to UK

  8th December 2015

  Boeing has delivered the fourteenth Mk6 Chinook aircraft to the UK’s Royal Air Force (RAF), the company announced on 7 December.   The delivery marks …

• Military Logistics

  Thumbs up for NZ trucks

  8th December 2015

  The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) is very pleased with its new fleet of MAN trucks acquired from Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles Australia (RMMVA), according …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2015: Cubic sets out future vision (video)

  7th December 2015

  Cubic Global Defence’s new chief technology officer Amy Kruse spoke with Shephard at this year’s I/ITSEC in Orlando about the training challenges faced today by …

• Defence Helicopter

  H225M integration with AM39 begins tests

  7th December 2015

  In-lab testing of the Exocet AM39 missile integrated with the H225M helicopter for the Brazilian Navy has begun, with several simulated missile launches undertaken during …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2015: Gladiator ready (video)

  4th December 2015

  Swiss company RUAG Defence showcased its live training solutions at this year’s I/ITSEC exhibition in Orlando, including its deployable combat training centre (CTC) and man-worn …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A330 MRTT (1-9) [NATO]

  Programme Background Following operations in Libya and extensive analyses by the European Defence Agency (EDA), it was agreed at the NATO Summit in 2012 that ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A330 MRTT Follow-On (NATO)

  Following operations in Libya and extensive analyses by the European Defence Agency (EDA), it was agreed at the NATO Summit in 2012 that the EDA ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  MH-60R Seahawks [Norway]

  Programme Background NH90 NFH cancellation  The Norwegian government announced the termination of the NH90 NFH helicopter contract for 14 NH90s with NHIndustries in June 2022. Seahawk Acquisition ...

• Tanks

  New MBT [Romania]

  Programme Background Requirement The Romanian Army's MBT fleet is composed of T-55 variants that are due to be retired in the mid-2020s. Although Romania's TR-85 ...

• Tanks

  M1A2 Abrams SEPv3 [Romania]

  Programme Background Requirement The Romanian Army's MBT fleet is composed of T-55 variants that are due to be retired in the mid-2020s. Although Romania's TR-85 ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) - (Greece)

  Programme Background EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) was announced in early 2022 and the project contract was awarded ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  UAV Tactical Level [Norway]

  Programme Background Request for Information (RfI) In September 2022, the Norwegian Defence Material Agency (NDMA) launched a request for information in preparation for a possible ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) - (Italy)

  Programme Background EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) was announced in early 2022 and the project contract was awarded ...

• Maritime patrol

  MAWS/PATMAR [France]

  Programme Background In 2017, Germany and France announced that they would be working towards developing an MPA to replace their current fleets in service. The ...

• Tanks

  Leopard 2A8 [Netherlands]

  Programme Background Bidders and Suppliers The Leopard 2A8, the latest in the Leopard family, was selected by the Royal Dutch Army as per announcements in ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Bayraktar TB2 [Kuwait]

  Background Contract Award On 18 January 2023, Baykar announced signing a $370 million export contract with Kuwait for the Bayraktar TB2. According to the announcement, ...

• Military UAS - HALE

  MQ-4C Triton - Germany (Cancelled)

  Programme Background Germany requested to buy four MQ-4C Triton HALE UAVs from Northrop Grumman. On 5 April 2018, the US State Department announced that it ...

• Corvettes

  European Patrol Corvette (EPC) [France]

  Programme Background Requirements The European Patrol Corvette (EPC) is one of the new PESCO (Permanent Structured Cooperation on Defence and Security) projects. PESCO was established ...

• AEW&C

  Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (1-6) [NATO]

  Programme Background NATO’s E-3A AWACS fleet is set to retire in 2035, after 50 years of service. To plan for the required follow-on capability, NATO's ...

• Corvettes

  European Patrol Corvette (EPC) [Italy]

  Programme Background Requirements The 2021-2023 Documento Programmatico Pluriennale (DPP) - a multi-year defence planning document from the Italian MoD - includes a plan to acquire eight "Patrol Ships", ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Land: air defence radar

  APIS

  APIS is a passive high-resolution primary radar system developed by Indra. It is the first passive system in the world capable of offering images using ...

• Uncrewed aerial systems engines

  AE50R

  The AE50R is an aviation gasoline single rotary engine with an output of 40.4kW. The engine is certified according to European Aviation Safety Agency Part ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  LOTUS

  The LOTUS, Low Observable Tactical Unnamed System, is a tactical UAV especially designed for border patrol ISR operations.  The development of the project is funded by ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  Mistral 3

  The Mistral 3 is the latest member of the Mistral family of very short-range surface-to-air missiles. It entered service in 2018 and has been chosen ...

• Helicopter engines

  Arriel 2H

  Safran Helicopter Engines received European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) engine type certification for its Arriel 2H engine, installed in the Avicopter AC312E, in April 2018. ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  AR5

  First announced in October 2012, the AR5 is a MALE UAS designed for SAR, surveillance and maritime patrol missions. The AR5 can be flown manually or commanded ...

• Trainer

  Gabriel-TP

  Gabriel-TP is a low-wing, two-seat tandem trainer aircraft aimed at both military and civilian customers. It is certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in ...

• Air: NVGs

  PNL-3M Orlik

  PNL-3M are high-performance, lightweight, passive stereoscopic NVGs for helicopter crew members. Certification by European Aviation Safety Agency also enables civilian use. The device can be ...

• Loitering munitions

  Akeron RCH 170

  Unveiled in April 2025, the Akeron RCH 170 is a fixed-wing loitering munition from MBDA. Similar in design to the Switchblade 300, the catapult launched system ...

• Air: Integrated cockpit systems

  Standard 3

  Jointly developed by ATR and Thales, The Standard 3 avionics suite has been specifically designed for ATR-600 aircraft. It offers the pilot user-friendly interface, along ...

• Loitering munitions

  Akeron RCX 50

  Unveiled in April 2025, the Akeron RCX 50 is a rotary-wing loitering munition from MBDA.  According to reports, the RCX 50 is designed to support ...

• Counter-UAS systems

  DroneGun

  DroneGun enables controlled management of an adversarial UAS, causing no damage to the UAV or surrounding area. It either forces the drone to perform a ...

• Military - USVs

  NOMARS

  The No Manning Required Ship (NOMARS) is a US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) effort to develop a first-of-its-kind large uncrewed surface vessel.

• Uncrewed aerial systems engines

  Trident 100TD2

  The Trident 100TD2 is a compression-ignition engine that is capable of operating on various types of heavy fuel. It is claimed to offer up to ...

• Space: radar systems

  ESA Sentinel-1

  Sentinel-1 is a planned constellation of four satellites with two already in orbit and two on order. They carry a payload of a C-band SAR ...