• Defence Notes

  Japan leads way with Li-ion submarines

  16th February 2017

  Japan's first submarine to be powered by lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries will be commissioned in March 2020, doing away with lead-acid batteries and a Stirling air-independent …

• Defence Notes

  Japan faces headwinds in aircraft exports

  15th February 2017

  The Japanese government wishes to reduce development and production costs by exporting defence equipment to foreign nations. While this would boost Japan's domestic defence industry, …

• Digital Battlespace

  Aero India 2017: India inducts first Embraer AEW

  15th February 2017

  A first Embraer ERJ 145-based airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft was handed over to the Indian Air Force (IAF) on the opening day of Aero …

• Digital Battlespace

  French carrier heads for refit

  14th February 2017

  The French Navy's aircraft carrier FS Charles de Gaulle (R91) entered dry dock in Toulon on 8 February to undergo a major refit period.This is …

• Land Warfare

  IDEX 2017: Hawkeye and new truck debut

  13th February 2017

  AM General is no stranger to the Middle East market with thousands of its HMMWV vehicles in the inventories of many armies in the region.But …

• Land Warfare

  IDEX 2017: The lay of the land

  13th February 2017

  The Middle East is about as unstable as anyone can remember with the civil war in Syria, the continuing fight against Daesh in Iraq and …

• Land Warfare

  More European interest for K9 artillery

  8th February 2017

  The small Baltic state of Estonia has become the latest European country to express interest in the K9 'Thunder' self-propelled howitzer, indicating growing popularity for …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  SideArm launches, retrieves UAS

  8th February 2017

  DARPA's SideArm research effort has reached a new milestone, with Aurora Flight Sciences successfully testing a full-scale technology demonstration system capable of meeting project requirements.The …

• Naval Warfare

  MCA seeking unmanned capability

  7th February 2017

  The UK's Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is exploring the possible use of UAS under the Maritime RPAS Pathfinder project that would see systems complementing …

• Naval Warfare

  Navy cannon gets coaxial enhancement

  6th February 2017

  The US Navy is approximately half way through an enhancement effort that adds coaxial machine gun capabilities to its Mk38 weapon system. Designed as a …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Online UAS training portal launched

  3rd February 2017

  Avion Unmanned has launched an online UAS training portal, the company announced on 1 February. The portal is designed to prepare law enforcement and commercial …

• Digital Battlespace

  Antares sting in Scorpion's tail

  2nd February 2017

  Thales Optronics has developed the final version of its Antares situational awarness system that will be fitted to vehicles built under the French Scorpion programme. …

• Defence Helicopter

  USMC maintains Ospreys, deploys Vipers in Japan

  1st February 2017

  The US military celebrated the opening of its first depot-level Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey repair facility in Japan on 12 January.  Located at Camp Kisarazu, an …

• Land Warfare

  Polish RAK to deliver this year

  30th January 2017

  The first deliveries of the 120 mm self-propelled mortar RAK system for the Polish Armed Forces will take place in the fourth quarter of 2017. …

• Digital Battlespace

  Japan launches first military comms satellite

  26th January 2017

  An H-IIA rocket carrying the Kirameki-2 X-band satellite was launched from the Tanegashima Space Centre on 24 January. It is the Japan Self-Defence Force’s (JSDF) …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Self-propelled rocket launchers

  K239 Chunmoo (Batch 1) [Estonia]

  Background Estonia currently operates the HIMARS as its primary MRLS. However, in an effort to expand its capabilities, as well as diversify its supply base, ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Eva [Slovakia]

  Background Slovakia currently operates the Zuzana and Zuzana 2 as its primary SPHs. As part of a wider effort to modernise and expand its armed ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Caesar [Croatia]

  Background Croatia currently operates the Soviet 2S1 Gvozdika, alongside a small number of German PzH 2000s.  Since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, multiple ...

• Self-propelled rocket launchers

  K239 Chunmoo (Batch 2) [Estonia]

  Background Estonia currently operates the HIMARS as its primary MRLS. However, in an effort to expand its capabilities, as well as diversify its supply base, ...

• Self-propelled rocket launchers

  K239 Chunmoo [Norway]

  Programme Background Norway previously operated a fleet of 12 M270 MLRS, which were put into storage in 2005 before being donated to Ukraine, via the ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Caesar [Portugal]

  Background The Portuguese army currently operates the M109 Paladin, alongside a number of traditional towed platforms. As part of the wider European trend towards modernising ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Mobile Tactical Cannon - Tracked [USA]

  Background The M109 entered US service in the 1960s. Since then it has served as the US Army's primary self-propelled howitzer (SPH). Over the course ...

• Loitering munitions

  Warmate 3.0 [South Korea]

  Programme Background Korean Reports On 3 September 2024, The Korea Economic Daily, nicknamed Hankyung, reported that the South Korean military was to introduce Polish loitering ...

• 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 ...

• Self-propelled guns

  ATMOS [Colombia]

  Programme background The Colombian army currently operates a variety of towed artillery platforms. The acquisition of self-propelled platforms is intended to enhance the capabilities of ...

• Self-propelled guns

  K9 Thunder (Batch 1) [Poland]

  Background Poland began utilising the K9 in 2008, when it was selected as the basis for its domestically produced Krab self-propelled gun, with the K9 providing the ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Caesar (Batch 2) [Estonia]

  Programme Background Estonia procured its first 12 Caesars in June 2024, with deliveries taking place in 2025. This second contract, awarded in February 2026, mirrors ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Rosomak (Batch 2) [Poland]

  Background Requirement The Polish Army selected Patria's XC-360 Armored Modular Vehicle (AMV) to meet its requirement for a new 8x8 armoured vehicle to replace the ...

• Military UAS - small

  DT46 [France]

  Programme Background Reports Around Eurosatory 2024, multiple defence news outlets, notably Army Recognition and The Defence Post, reported that the French Army had acquired Delair's ...

• Self-propelled guns

  ATMOS [Denmark]

  Programme Background In 2016, the ATMOS was one of two systems shortlisted to meet a requirement from the Danish Army for up to 21 new ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Self-propelled guns

  Arpan

  The Arpan is a 155mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer (SPH), developed by ASFAT. It is a modification of the Panter towed howitzer, developed to provide a ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Morana

  Developed by Excalibur Army, the Morana is a 155mm self-propelled-howitzer capable of hitting targets up to 41km away. The howitzer is mounted on a Tatra Force ...

• Self-propelled guns

  PLZ-05/PLZ-52

  The PLZ-05 is a 155 mm tracked self-propelled howitzer developed for the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) to supplement and eventually replace its inventory of ...

• Land: battle management systems

  ATLAS

  An interoperable C4I system for artillery missions and resources deployed in the French Army. Commissioned in 2005, ATLAS represents a main element of battlespace digitisation, ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Mounted Artillery Gun (MArG)

  The Mounted Artillery Gun (MArG) is a wheeled self-propelled howitzer developed by Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited. It was first unveiled at Eurosatory 2026.

• Self-propelled guns

  Uran

  The Uran is a 105mm self-propelled howitzer (SPH) developed by MKE. First unveiled at SAHA 2026, the Uran is intended to provide a mobile fire ...

• Self-propelled guns

  SH3

  The SH3 (also referred to as WMZ322) is a 122 mm tracked self-propelled howitzer introduced by Norinco in 2008. Believed to be an updated version ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Attila

  The Attila is a wheeled 155mm self-propelled howitzer (SPH) developed by MKE. Unveiled at SAHA 2026, the Attila is intended to provide Turkey with a ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Gurhan

  The Gurhan is a tracked 155mm self-propelled howitzer (SPH) developed by MKE. First unveiled at SAHA 2024, the Gurhan is intended to provide a domestically ...

• Guided munitions

  GP155/GP155A

  The GP155 and its advanced variant, the GP155A, are precision-guided 155 mm artillery projectiles developed by Norinco.

• Unguided Artillery Ammunition

  XM1122E1 High Explosive Projectile

  The XM1122E1 High Explosive Projectile is a 155mm artillery round being developed by General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems. As of May 2025, it was undergoing testing with the US Army.

• Self-propelled guns

  VBM 155

  The Veicolo Blindato Medio (VBM) 155 is a self-propelled howitzer, currently being developed by CIO. The VBM 155 will provide the Italian army's wheeled armoured formations ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Type 99

  The Type 99 is a self-propelled howitzer developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and the Japan Steel Works to replace the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's ...

• Self-propelled guns

  GCT

  The GCT 155 mm tracked self-propelled howitzer, also known as the AMX-30 AuF1, was developed as a replacement for the French Army's Mk F3 155 mm self-propelled ...

• Self-propelled guns

  SIGMA

  The SIGMA is the latest self-propelled howitzer (SPH) developed by Elbit America and Oshkosh Defense. Produced entirely in the US, the SIGMA is intended to ...