• Digital Battlespace

  US Army selects Northrop Grumman Athena sensor to improve threat detection capabilities for its aircraft

  30th August 2024

  According to the supplier, Athena is a next-generation missile warning sensor that provides 360-degree situational awareness.

• Land Warfare

  Extra punch to be added to THeMIS UGV as production set to increase

  29th January 2025

  Milrem Robotics is looking to improve the lethality of its Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System (THeMIS) uncrewed ground vehicle (UGV), ramp up production and add an integration with uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs).

• Land Warfare

  Sweden to receive production Archer howitzers next year with capability expected in 2030

  11th March 2025

  When compared to some other wheeled artillery systems Archer has the advantage of quicker deployment and relocation as the complete fire mission is carried out without the crew leaving the protected cab at the front.

• Naval Warfare

  USSOUTHCOM in ‘desperate need’ for fleet assets says commander

  19th February 2025

  Adm Holsey also warned that were “zero Navy P-8 aircraft available due to being pulled to other theatres”.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  ideaForge unveils new UAVs at Aero India 2025

  12th February 2025

  India UAV supplier ideaForge has launched the Netra 5 and Switch V2 drones at Aero India 2025, boasting of enhanced endurance, AI-driven autonomy and improved operational capabilities.

• Land Warfare

  General Motors completes first version of next-gen 4x4 military vehicle

  22nd October 2024

  GM has unveiled its “Next Generation” 4x4 military vehicle, a technology demonstrator based on the Chevrolet Silverado ZR2, featuring commercial components, a flexible design and advanced weapon systems.

• Air Warfare

  UK Royal Navy’s upgraded Commando Merlin helicopters achieve full operating capability

  30th January 2025

  A total of 19 Mk3 and six Mk3a Commando Merlin helicopters have now been upgraded to the Mk4/4a standard, with the work overseen by the procurement arm of the Ministry of Defence (MoD), Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), Leonardo and the Royal Navy (RN).

• Defence Notes

  Romanians put pro-Russian candidate into presidential runoff even as the government spends west

  26th November 2024

  Romania joined NATO more than two decades ago and the country is vital to the alliance’s geographic reach and its ability to supply Ukraine with weapons.

• Land Warfare

  Borsuk IFV programme marks turning point for Poland’s armoured modernisation

  30th June 2025

  The Borsuk vehicles are to replace the Soviet-designed BMP-1 as the Polish military’s main tracked Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV).

• Naval Warfare

  US shipbuilding struggles to keep pace with China

  22nd January 2025

  The small production capacity of US shipyards has generated multiple delays in US Navy programmes.

• Land Warfare

  The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle continues its success as the new variant rolls out

  20th March 2025

  The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) is becoming the dominant platform in its class as it replaces most of the massive US Army and US Marine Corps (USMC) fleets of HMMWV 4x4s, colloquially known as the Humvee. Shephard dives deep into the JLTV programme background and analyses the latest variants and contracts, including the controversial production switch to AM General and the continued contracts continuing to head Oshkosh's way.

• Land Warfare

  Australia looks to Precision Strike Missile and Naval Strike Missile for new long-range fires

  11th December 2024

  Australia has committed a A$1 billion over the next four years to accelerate investments in the targeting enterprise, long-range fires, theatre logistics, fuel resilience and robotic and autonomous systems as part of its 2024 National Defence Strategy.

• Air Warfare

  What lessons could Europe learn from air power use in Ukraine?

  3rd July 2025

  The use of air power by both sides in the ongoing conflict has been extensively focused on, influencing policy and procurement around the world. But are the lessons from the front line universally applicable, or should other nations be planning for very different scenarios?

• Land Warfare

  Norway cleared for HIMARS purchase worth $580 million

  12th August 2024

  HIMARS weapons have been in high demand with systems provided to Ukraine, Poland placing an order, Australia and Morocco being approved for Foreign Military Sales, Taiwan ordering more and the Netherlands requesting systems.

• Land Warfare

  Denmark shuns US platform as it settles on SAMP/T air defence system

  16th September 2025

  The acquisition, which is part of the country’s broader defence package worth DKK58 billion (US$9.2 billion), goes against the grain with many other European countries opting for the US’s popular Patriot platform.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Joint Strike Ship [South Korea]

  South Korea is reportedly seeking to acquire up to three Joint Strike Ships as part of its "Three Axis System". The Joint Strike Ship (JSS) is ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Joint Strike Ship [South Korea]

  South Korea is reportedly seeking to acquire up to three Joint Strike Ships as part of its "Three Axis System". The Joint Strike Ship (JSS) is ...

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

  Bayraktar TB2 (Contracted) [UAE]

  Programme Background UAE and Turkish relations Historically, the two nations were not aligned with one another. However, this situation has quickly turned around, with Emeriti's ...

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

  Bayraktar TB2 (Selected) [UAE]

  Programme Background UAE and Turkish relations Historically, the two nations were not aligned with one another. However, this situation has quickly turned around, with Emeriti's ...

• Loitering munitions

  Turkish Loitering Munitions [Albania]

  Programme Background "Considerable" Speaking on 10 October 2024, Albania's  Prime Minister Edi Rama stated that Türkiye would provide Albania with a "considerable" number of loitering munitions. A government ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  Hürkuş-C Advanced Armed Trainer (Turkey)

  The Hurjet-C development programme funding was included in the Hurkus-B procurement contract awarded by  the Turkish Undersecretariat for Defence Industries in December 2013.  The Hurjet will ...

• 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, ...

• Loitering munitions

  Loitering Munitions [Japan]

  Programme Background Appreciation of Loitering Munitions After years of not operating loitering munitions and armed UAVs, Japan's position towards them has changed. Belatedly, the MoD realised ...

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

  Akinci [UAE]

  Programme Background Surprise Delivery Baykar, in a statement of its 2024 achievements, stated that it had delivered two Akinci UAVs to the UAE, one in ...

• Fighter - multirole

  JF-17 [Azerbaijan]

  Programme Background Requirement In October 2019, Turkish media sources reported that at least two Azeri pilots travelled to Pakistan to receive training in JF-17 aircraft. ...

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

  MQ-9B SeaGuardian [Morocco]

  Programme Background 2020-2030 Morocco-US Agreement In October 2020, officials from the Trump administration visited Morocco, and both nations signed a military and security cooperation agreement. ...

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

  Bayraktar TB2 (Qatar)

  Programme Background In 2018 at DIMDEX, it was revealed that Qatar had bought six Bayraktar TB2 UAVs from Turkey. The deal also included three ground control stations, ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Eurofighter Typhoon [Türkiye]

  Programme Background Requirement The Turkish Air Force has operated two main fighter platforms, the F-16 and F-4, for several decades. As older F-16 airframes and ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  L-39NG Senegal

  The aircraft will feature five hard-points, two external fuel tanks with 350 lt capacity, Mk 81 and Mk 82 bombs, guided and unguided rockets, single ...

• Tanks

  Altay MBT [Türkiye - First Batch]

  Programme Background The Altay will replace legacy M48 and M60 MBTs still in service with the Turkish Army. The $3.971 billion contract awarded to BMC in November ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: aerial targets, Loitering munitions

  Simsek

  The Simsek (Şimşek), or Lightning, is a high-speed target drone system that enables autonomous high-speed and low-altitude threat stimulation of aircraft and missiles for air-to-air, ...

• Guided munitions

  MAM-L

  The Roketsan Smart Micro Munition (MAM-L) is designed to be used for taking down heavily armoured vehicles,  by all classes of UAVs and light attack aircraft. The ...

• Artillery rockets

  TRG-230

  TRG-230 is a 230 mm GNSS/INS guided artillery rocket developed by the Turkish ROKETSAN as the medium-range guided artillery rocket for the firm’s universal MLRS ...

• Guided munitions

  SMKB (Smart-MK-Bomb)

  The Smart-MK-Bomb, or the SMKB, is a precision guidance kit developed by Mectron and designed to turn Mk 82 and Mk 83 bombs into guided munitions.

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

  Aksungur

  The Aksungur is a twin-engined MALE UAS manufactured by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) for the Turkish Armed Forces. TAI completed the platform's maiden flight on 20 March ...

• Artillery rockets

  TRG-300 Block I

  TRG-300 is a 300 mm artillery rocket developed by Turkish ROKETSAN, serving as the heavy rocket in the TRG family of guided artillery missiles.

• Artillery rockets

  TRG/TRLG-122

  The TRG-122 is a Turkish 122mm family of guided artillery rockets developed by ROKETSAN for the T-122 Sakarya and other MLRS platforms. The family includes ...

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

  Akinci

  The Akinci is a HALE UCAV manufactured by Baykar. Sometimes known as Uçan Balık, the UAV can be fitted with a range of ISR or ...

• Self-propelled mortars

  2S34 Chosta

  The 2S34 Chosta is an upgraded version of the 122mm 2S1 tracked SPH that replaces the original 2A31 ordnance with the 120mm 2A80-1 mortar-gun, an ...

• EO/IR systems

  StormCaster-DX

  Unveiled at Modern Day Marine 2022, the Teledyne FLIR StormCaster-DX is a multi-role, low-SWaP laser target designator (LTD) payload designed to affect the STANAG-compliant terminal ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  Multirole Heavy Combat Helicopter

  The Multirole Heavy Combat Helicopter is an attack helicopter being developed by Turkish Aerospace to meet the operational requirements of the Turkish Armed Forces, including air-to-ground ...

• Air-to-surface missiles

  BARQ

  The BARQ, known as Lighting in Urdu, is a laser-guided air-to-surface missile developed by Pakistan's Global Industrial & Defence Solutions (GIDS). Weighing 47.5kg at launch, the ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Ares 150 SAT

  The Ares 150 SAT is a tactical patrol and guided-missile fast attack craft designed and developed by the Turkish manufacturer Ares Shipyard. The boats are ...

• Loitering munitions

  Merkut

  The Merkut, or Merküt, is a first-person view (FPV) style loitering munition system developed by Titra Teknoloji A.Ş. It features a fragmentation warhead that distributes ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  9M331

  The 9M331 is a short-range, surface-to-air missile designed to engage aircraft, helicopters, UAVs, and guided munitions and is the primary missile for the 9K331 Tor ...