• Land Warfare

  Australian Army readies itself for influx of heavy metal

  5th September 2024

  The Australian Army has been restructuring its armoured capabilities, consolidating heavy armoured vehicles such as the M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams and AS21 Redback IFVs in Townsville, while also advancing key defence projects.

• Land Warfare

  Taiwan continues to modernise its army with indigenous products

  12th September 2024

  The island’s government has pushed through increased defence spending on new equipment, including the development of new rifles and the introduction of new armoured vehicle variants, as it prepares for a potential showdown with China.

• Land Warfare

  Swiss move forward on enhancing indirect firepower

  29th May 2024

  The Swiss Army will select a new self-propelled artillery system to replace its aging Pz Hb 88/95 155mm tracked units in a bid to modernise its artillery capabilities.

• Land Warfare

  Challenger 3 programme promises capability upgrade as first delivery milestone approaches

  23rd August 2024

  The British Army’s Challenger 3 main battle tank (MBT) will replace existing Challenger 2s with a smaller but more capable fleet of vehicles with improved protection and notably a 120mm L55A1 smoothbore gun firing an Enhanced Kinetic Energy round. The programme is advancing rapidly with several hurdles cleared in the past year.

• Land Warfare

  Malaysia’s armed forces go shopping for hundreds of support vehicles

  1st August 2024

  Malaysia is issuing tenders to acquire more than 300 vehicles of 11 different types as part of efforts to recapitalise and restructure its ground forces.

• Land Warfare

  Mercedes-Benz presents Zetros 8x8 logistics vehicle for the first time

  18th June 2024

  The Zetros family of vehicles is now available in two-, three- and four-axle variants with the latest 8x8 version already with an order book of more than 500 vehicles.

• Land Warfare

  US Army receives first RCV-Light platforms

  23rd August 2024

  The US Army will now start the testing phase of RCV bidders in the Aberdeen Proving Ground.

• Land Warfare

  Rheinmetall eyes German Army requirement with new artillery rocket system

  19th June 2024

  The GMARS wheeled artillery rocket launcher offers greater mobility than the tracked M270 MLRS and double the firepower of the M142 HIMARS, and can support next-generation munitions. Germany has a requirement for 70 launchers and many other NATO armies are looking to renew or supplement their indirect fire capabilities.

• Land Warfare

  CAESAR Mk II experiences high demand at Eurosatory

  24th June 2024

  KNDS-France debuted the advanced CAESAR Mk II 155mm 6x6 self-propelled artillery system at Eurosatory last week with orders now exceeding 600 units valued at $3.5 billion.

• Land Warfare

  GDELS’s Eagle 6x6 enters production for Swiss Army

  17th June 2024

  General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) has introduced its latest Eagle (6x6) reconnaissance vehicle, now in production for the Swiss Army and on show for the first time at Eurosatory 2024, featuring enhanced payload capacity, advanced sensor and command systems, and superior all-weather target engagement capabilities.

• Air Warfare

  Staying power: The importance of mid-life upgrades (opinion)

  9th July 2024

  The rapid integration of advanced Western weapons with Soviet-era Ukrainian aircraft and the adaptability shown in makeshift solutions has highlighted the essential role of mid-life upgrades in maintaining effective military forces amid evolving combat and technological challenges.

• Defence Notes

  Putting Land Equipment Capability in the hands of Military and Defence Personnel

  10th July 2024

  DVD2024 marks more than two-decades of the most significant exhibition for Defence industry, DE&S Delivery Teams, Army HQ and Defence community users of Land Equipment. Staged at UTAC Millbrook since 2003, DVD is a two-day event, which will take place on 18th and 19th September 2024.

• Land Warfare

  Europe’s industrial base for armour is hollow and too reliant on external partners, posing future risks

  14th June 2024

  Europe’s industrial base for armoured vehicles is precariously hollow and overly reliant on external partners such as South Korea. The continent’s dependency poses significant risks for future military readiness and strategic autonomy.

• Land Warfare

  Italy orders last batch of Centauro IIs

  28th June 2024

  The Centauro II MGS features a new HITFACT turret with a 120mm stabilised smooth bore and a new hull incorporating an H-line drive.

• Land Warfare

  Poland’s Borsuk IFV awaits production contract

  25th June 2024

  Poland showcased its latest Borsuk infantry fighting vehicle at Eurosatory in Paris, highlighting its domestically funded development, advanced weaponry and planned production of 1,400 units to replace Soviet-era models.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Boxer (JSFT) [Germany]

  Background The German Army has a requirement for a heavy armoured vehicle platform to supplement the lighter Fennek in service with its JFSTs. Unlike the ...

• Wheeled assault guns

  VBC Cav-MSR [Brazil]

  Programme background Purpose The Brazilian Army's mechanised cavalry regiments are believed to operate approximately 400 EE-9 Cascavel 6x6 fire support vehicles manufactured by the now-defunct ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Boxer (Vilkas) (Batch 2) [Lithuania]

  Programme Background  Lithuania's Boxers are manufactured by the ARTEC production lines in Germany and the Netherlands. KMW is responsible for producing 56 of the vehicles ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Boxer (MIV) [UK]

  Background History The UK MoD announced in March 2018 that it would re-join the Boxer programme and pursue a sole-source acquisition of the 8x8 vehicle. ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  6x6 APC [Germany]

  Background Bids and suppliers As no programme has been officially announced, all bidders and suppliers are speculative at this time. Patria 6x6 Common Armoured Vehicle ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Pandur II Replacement [Czech Republic]

  Background  The Czech Republic currently operates 127 Pandur II IFVs, 107 of which were manufactured locally by Tatra between 2009 and 2013, with the remaining 20 ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  AMVxp [Slovenia]

  Programme Background Requirement Slovenian defence policy requires the establishment of an armoured battalion (SrBBSk) and a combat reconnaissance battalion (SrBIB) to support the country's NATO commitments. Under its ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Boxer (Vilkas) (Batch 3) [Lithuania]

  Programme Background  Lithuania's Boxers are manufactured by the ARTEC production lines in Germany and the Netherlands. KMW is responsible for producing 56 of the vehicles ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  8x8 IFV [Qatar]

  Programme Background Qatar requires a new 8x8 armoured vehicle platform to replace a range of legacy wheeled and tracked armoured vehicles currently in service with ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Boxer (Vilkas) (Batch 1) [Lithuania]

  Programme Background Lithuania's Boxers are manufactured by the ARTEC production lines in Germany and the Netherlands. KMW is responsible for producing 56 of the vehicles ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Boxer [Slovenia]

  Programme Background Requirement As part of its broader military modernisation plans outlined in its Medium-Term Defense Plan 2018-2023, the Slovenian MoD identified a requirement for ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  8x8 IFV [Greece]

  Background The Greek Army is believed to operate a vast inventory of tracked APCs numbering more than 2,600 vehicles. This consists of legacy Cold War-era ...

• 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 ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Medium protected ambulance [Germany]

  Background In light of operational experience, the German Army identified a need for an armoured ambulance vehicle to fill the gap between the lighter Eagle ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Pacha Kuyuchix [Peru]

  Background The Peruvian Army is reliant upon a range of ageing 4x4 APCs, including the UR-416, Type 6614 and Type 6616, all of which are ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Boxer Tracked

  At Eurosatory 2022, Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) has unveiled a tracked version of the 8x8 Boxer armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) with an increased gross vehicle weight and ...

• Military UAS - small

  STR-50

  The STR-50 is a rotary-wing UAV manufactured by Stromkind.  Little is known about the platform. It was seen displayed on top of a Boxer 8x8 ...

• Land: RWS

  RT60

  The RT60 is the largest, heaviest member of Kongsberg's family of Remote Turret (RT) systems, all of which are based on a common technology. Designed ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Boxer

  ARTEC produces the 8x8 Boxer, a JV between KNDS, Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles and Rheinmetall Military Vehicles Nederland, to meet the requirements of several militaries ...

• Land: RWS

  FLW 200

  The FLW 200 was developed by KMW to meet a German Army requirement for a heavy RWS. Designed with a modular architecture, it is capable ...

• Self-propelled guns

  K9 Mobile Howitzer

  Hanwha Aerospace announced a new developmental 155mm SPH based on an 8x8 chassis in July 2024. This was subsequently designated the K9 Mobile Howitzer. Building ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Terrex 3

  The Terrex 3 is the latest member of the Terrex 8x8 IFVs developed by ST Kinetics and is a highly protected variant. Designed using the ...

• Land: RWS

  Mangart 300

  The Mangart 300 unmanned turret is being developed by a consortium of seven Slovenian companies led by Valhalla Turrets. Armed with a Northrop Grumman XM813 ...

• Land: RWS

  M151 Protector (RS4)

  Originally developed in 1997, the Protector family of remote weapons stations is best known for its extensive service with the US Army, which adopted the ...

• Land: vehicle simulators

  Egress Trainer

  The KMW Egress Trainer provides crew members with the opportunity to experience vehicle roll-over conditions, rehearse and physically execute the steps necessary to survive a ...

• Land: RWS

  R400S Mk2 Dual

  The R400S Mk2 Dual is a variant of the R400S Mk2 which can be configured as a single or a dual RWS.  In single weapon ...

• Main battle tanks

  EMBT

  KNDS (KMW + NEXTER Defense Systems) presented its first joint product, the EMBT (European Main Battle Tank) demonstrator, at the June 2018 Eurosatory defence exhibition. The EMBT mounts ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Artillery Gun Module (AGM)

  The Artillery Gun Module (AGM) was developed as a private venture by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, now KNDS, to provide a lightweight and fully automated artillery system ...

• Land: RWS

  M153 Protector (CROWS II/RS4)

  The M153 Protector leverages and improves upon the technology developed for the M151 Protector RWS. Like its predecessor, it is capable of accommodating a wide ...

• Land: manned turrets

  Lance

  The Lance Modular Turret System, designed to equip tracked and wheeled IFVs, was introduced by Rheinmetall in 2008. Lance is available either in a two-person ...