• Naval Warfare

  In focus — the IRGC(N) and its strategic effect

  11th January 2021

  Formed after the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps has developed a unique approach to maritime force projection, and represents the force of choice for Tehran when it wants to bring about a strategic effect in the Gulf region and beyond

• Naval Warfare

  Australian MCM vessels to use Arafura hulls

  29th January 2021

  Australia is seeking information from companies able to offer and integrate mine countermeasures and military survey capabilities for the country's navy.

• Naval Warfare

  Order of long-lead items for Type 26 Batch 2 underway

  25th January 2021

  A key element in the RN future surface fleet, the Type 26 programme has reduced in scope from a planned 13 hulls to just eight.

• Air Warfare

  Sri Lanka sends aircraft around the world for overhauls

  21st January 2021

  Unable to afford new aircraft, Sri Lanka is overhauling and refurbishing aircraft and helicopters in disparate locations around the world.

• Air Warfare

  RAAF to expand Poseidon posse by a pair

  4th January 2021

  With maritime threats continuing to abound, Australia exercises an option for two more Boeing maritime patrol aircraft.

• Naval Warfare

  Colombia commissions ex-South Korean missile corvette

  8th January 2021

  Former Pohang-class vessel officially enters Colombian service.

• Naval Warfare

  Saab to supply mine neutralisation system for MMCM programme

  8th January 2021

  ​The UK and French navies are the launch customers for the modular Multi-Shot Mine Neutralisation System.

• Defence Notes

  Finland calls for HX best and final offers

  29th January 2021

  Competitors involved in the Finnish HX fighter acquisition programme have been issued with best and final offer requests, ahead of a contract award for one lucky manufacturer before the end of 2021.

• Defence Notes

  UK pushes back on Chinese E-7 spy fears

  19th January 2021

  Links between China and repurposed Boeing 737 aircraft are not thought to represent a national security threat for the UK, despite a national newspaper suggesting otherwise.

• Training

  Elbit to train RN sub crews

  11th January 2021

  Elbit Systems UK to provide shore-based training at HMNB Clyde.

• Air Warfare

  UAE orders more GlobalEye aircraft

  4th January 2021

  UAE will increase its GlobalEye fleet to five aircraft by 2025 with latest order.

• Digital Battlespace

  BAE Systems moves fast on RFCM for Poseidon

  6th January 2021

  Pod-mounted unit will be designed, built and shipped out in just five months.

• Naval Warfare

  Finally! OPVs with Robust Military Grade ISR Capabilities (sponsored)

  7th January 2021

  "Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution." — Albert Einstein …

• Defence Notes

  Taiwan is piggy in the middle amidst Sino-US competition

  15th January 2021

  A strategic 'Great Game' is going on between China and the US, with Taiwan unfortunately stuck in the middle and under pressure.

• Defence Notes

  Effective C-sUAS demands agile mindset

  12th January 2021

  A new strategy from the DoD describes how the US armed forces can mitigate or defeat the risks posed by small drones to personnel, facilities and assets. Whereas previous strategies followed a piecemeal or service-specific approach, this time the DoD looked at the challenges confronting the whole department.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  AR3 (Ukraine Aid) [UK]

  Background £270 Million investment On 15 September 2025, the UK MoD noted that, since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the UK ...

• Military UAS - small

  Intra-Theatre Lift [UK]

  Background  Relationship to the Heavy Lift Challenge The Royal Navy (RN) embarked on the Heavy Lift Challenge, now called the Heavy Lift Capability (UASHLC), to explore cargo-carrying ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Land Autonomous Collaborative Platform (LACP) (Project NYX) [UK]

  Background Autonomous Collaboration Platform (ACP) Strategy Reflecting on lessons from the cancellation of the Mosquito programme, the Royal Air Force (RAF) redefined the role of ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | Intra-Theatre Lift [UK]

  On 27 June 2022, the MoD released a request for information (RFI) for a long-reach intra-theatre lift UAV. The RfI stated that the MOD had identified a ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | Intra-Theatre Lift [UK]

  On 27 June 2022, the MoD released a request for information (RFI) for a long-reach intra-theatre lift UAV. The RfI stated that the MOD had identified a ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | Autonomous Collaboration Platform (ACP) (Project Vanquish) [UK]

  In October 2025, the Royal Navy (RN) issued a request for industry proposals for Project Vanquish, an initiative to develop and test a Tier 2 ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | Autonomous Collaboration Platform (ACP) (Project Vanquish) [UK]

  In October 2025, the Royal Navy (RN) issued a request for industry proposals for Project Vanquish, an initiative to develop and test a Tier 2 ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Autonomous Collaboration Platform (ACP) (Project Vanquish) [UK]

  Background Autonomous Collaboration Platform (ACP) Strategy Reflecting on lessons from the cancellation of the Mosquito programme, the Royal Air Force (RAF) redefined the role of ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  StormShroud: Autonomous Collaboration Platform (ACP) [UK]

  Background Autonomous Collaboration Platform (ACP) Strategy Reflecting on lessons learned from the cancellation of the Mosquito programme, the Royal Air Force (RAF) redefined the role ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Multi-Purpose Mission Ship (1) [Malaysia]

  Malaysia is procuring a Multi-Purpose Mission Ship (MPMS-1) designed to perform multiple maritime operations, including maritime law enforcement, EEZ protection, surveillance, and counter-trafficking. The Malaysian ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Multi-Purpose Mission Ship (1) [Malaysia]

  Malaysia is procuring a Multi-Purpose Mission Ship (MPMS-1) designed to perform multiple maritime operations, including maritime law enforcement, EEZ protection, surveillance, and counter-trafficking. The Malaysian ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Multi-Purpose Mission Ship (2) [Malaysia]

  Malaysia is procuring a second Multi-Purpose Mission Ship (MPMS-2) designed to perform multiple maritime operations, including maritime law enforcement, EEZ protection, surveillance, and counter-trafficking. The ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Multi-Purpose Mission Ship (2) [Malaysia]

  Malaysia is procuring a second Multi-Purpose Mission Ship (MPMS-2) designed to perform multiple maritime operations, including maritime law enforcement, EEZ protection, surveillance, and counter-trafficking. The ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | C295 MPAs [India]

  In February 2024, India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to purchase 15 maritime patrol aircraft for about $3.5 billion. The Indian ...

• Data links

  Data links | C295 MPAs [India]

  In February 2024, India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to purchase 15 maritime patrol aircraft for about $3.5 billion. The Indian ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• 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 ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  AR3

  The AR3, or AR3 Net Ray, is an autonomous small-UAS designed to support land-based and maritime missions.  In May 2025, the Royal Air Force announced ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  AR3 EVO

  Unveiled at DSEI 2025, the AR3 EVO is a small fixed-wing UAV from Tekever. The system is highly modular and can be configured in a ...

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

  ARX

  Unveiled at Xponential 2024, the ARX is a fixed-wing drone developed by Tekever.  It features common electronics and software with other Tekever drones. Unlike those ...

• EO/IR systems

  PT-8DN

  The PT-8DN is a versatile day-night payload from Overwatch Imaging.  It has dual RGB sensors of different focal lengths and an HD LWIR sensor. It also ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  AR2 Carcará

  The AR2 Carcará is a hand- or catapult-launched mini-UAV designed to support search and rescue, surveillance and patrol operations in amphibious and maritime environments. It is ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  AR4

  The AR4 is a hand-launched mini-UAS designed for rapid mobile deployment. Manufactured by Tekever, the UAS is suitable for both military and commercial ISTAR applications.  A ...

• EO/IR systems

  PT-8N

  The PT-8D is an IR system from Overwatch Imaging. It is fitted with multiple HD thermal cameras and has been designed to conduct missions at dusk ...

• EO/IR systems

  PT-8D

  Marketed as a cost-effective solution, the PT-8D is a wide-area search and ISR payload from Overwatch Imaging. It features an RGB colour camera and a ...

• Subsystems: hardware

  Maritime Console

  The Discovery Machine Maritime Console can create highly intelligent entities for use in simulated training events. It is designed to work with the USN Joint ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems

  FlyingFish Maritime

  The FlyingFish Maritime SIGINT system is one of several derivatives of the FlyingFish Airborne Satellite Monitoring System developed by Horizon Technologies. Designed to be mounted ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  SitaWare Maritime

  Developed by Systematic, SitaWare Maritime is a C4ISR system that emphasises interoperability, the ability to provide a recognised maritime picture, and data-led decision-making aids. According ...

• Maritime patrol

  Cessna Maritime Patrol

  The Cessna 'special mission' Maritime Patrol Aircraft is a variant of the Cessna Citation Longitude business jet developed by Textron aviation. Textron has stated the onboard systems, ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Torch-X Maritime

  Produced by Elbit Systems, the Torch-X Maritime is a combat management system which combines mature COTS components into an open-architecture C4I suite. Notably, the system ...

• Data links

  Maritime Tactical Data Link

  The Maritime Tactical Data Link (MTDL) is a developmental tactical data link by Hanwha Systems. Offered in 16 configurations, the system is based on the ...