• Naval Warfare

  Italy readies LHD Trieste for 2023 delivery, expands F-35 operations

  2nd June 2022

  Once commissioned with the Italian Navy, the Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) Trieste will be the largest vessel in the fleet, displacing 33,000t, and the second capable of operating the F-35B.

• Air Warfare

  Persistence pays off with ARRW hypersonic test

  18th May 2022

  The ARRW air-launched hypersonic missile test programme has had its share of delays and mishaps, but Lockheed Martin and the USAF have finally conducted a successful boosted flight test.

• Air Warfare

  US, in prescribing Taiwan’s mission, rebuffs MH-60R sale

  24th May 2022

  The current administration in the US is proving less willing than Trump was to sell military equipment to Taiwan.

• Defence Notes

  Sound and fury from Russia as super-heavy Sarmat far from ready

  16th May 2022

  For all the bombastic talk from Russian President about the hitting power of the new RS-28 Sarmat 'super heavy' ICBM, observers are highly sceptical that it will enter service in 2023 as claimed.

• Naval Warfare

  Down, but not out (Comment)

  10th May 2022

  The sinking in April of the Russian Navy’s Black Sea flagship, although not evidence of a major change in the naval domain, is a far cry from the pre-emptive scuttling of Ukraine’s own flagship. The donation of increasingly advanced materiel demonstrates increased faith in Ukraine’s ability to resist the Russian invaders.

• Naval Warfare

  SM-2 Block IIIA comes aboard Danish corvette

  4th May 2022

  New medium-range air defence missiles will undergo tests aboard the Iver Huitfeldt-class corvette Niels Juel.

• Defence Notes

  North Korea stages parade to burnish missile credentials

  1st May 2022

  North Korea's missile and rocket programme shows absolutely no signs of tiring, as evidenced by the latest military parade before assembled dignitaries.

• Land Warfare

  US Army plans deeper experiments with cutting-edge systems in FY2023

  12th May 2022

  The US Army is looking to deepen its experimentation with cutting-edge and innovative solutions by allocating $35 billion for this purpose in its FY2023 budget request and $90.8 million for Project Convergence 22.

• Digital Battlespace

  White Sands counter-drone demo blends laser kill capability with NASAMS

  1st April 2022

  The High Energy Laser Weapon System knocked down nine drones in concert with the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System during a recent C-UAS demonstration at White Sands.

• Defence Notes

  World Defense Show’s first edition accelerates Saudi Arabia’s transition towards a self-sufficient defense industry (sponsored)

  19th April 2022

  Saudi Arabia is on its way to localizing 50% of military, defense and security expenditure by 2030 following the inaugural World Defense Show.

• Land Warfare

  US approves sales of non-standard ammunition to Ukraine

  25th April 2022

  The estimated cost is $165 million and includes rockets and various rounds of non-standard and legacy Warsaw Pact ammunition for MBTs, artillery vehicles, mortar systems and grenade launchers.

• Land Warfare

  Slovakia gains fourth Patriot battery

  29th April 2022

  NATO allies Germany and the Netherlands have delivered an extra Patriot SAM battery to Slovakia.

• Naval Warfare

  Australia’s first OPV prepares to go to sea

  15th June 2022

  COVID-19 has impacted the original contract schedule of Australia's new class of OPVs, but five vessels are currently under construction.

• Air Warfare

  US hails HAWC test but still plays catch-up on hypersonics

  8th April 2022

  The second successful test flight of the HAWC missile fails to obscure patchy progress overall in US hypersonic programmes.

• Training

  USMC to ‘radically’ change training with realistic simulated environment

  19th May 2022

  Under Project Tripoli, US Marine Corps headquarters could be training with a live, virtual, constructive environment in less than three years. Ambitions are to conduct training exercises virtually as complex as Range 400.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  Rafale [France]

  Programme Background Rafale F4 is the latest configuration of the Rafale fighter jet family. New functions will also be developed to improve the aircraft’s capabilities ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  MH-60R [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirement The RAN already has 24 MH-60R Seahawks (the last delivered in September 2016), so this represents a 50% increase in fleet size. ...

• ISR/special mission

  ISTAR Aircraft [South Korea]

  Programme Background 2018 - Issue of RfI The South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) stated that Seoul planned to procure additional aircraft to minimise potential surveillance ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Project Sea 129 Phase 5 [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirement Project Sea 129 Phase 5 was intended to acquire a new ISR UAS capability for the RAN. The aircraft was required to perform ...

• Landing craft and hovercraft

  Littoral Manoeuvre Vessel - Medium (Project Land 8710 Phase 1A) [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirements Australia has set out requirements for a fleet of up to 18 Littoral Manoeuvre Vessels - Medium (LMV-M) with the release of ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing

  VTOL UAV [New Zealand]

  Background Defence Capability Plan (DCP) In April 2025, the New Zealand government published the DCP, a document that is essentially a blueprint for what procurements ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | ISTAR Aircraft [South Korea]

  The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) has a requirement for up to four intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) aircraft to supplement its ...

• Data links

  Data links | ISTAR Aircraft [South Korea]

  The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) has a requirement for up to four intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) aircraft to supplement its ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | ISTAR Aircraft [South Korea]

  The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) has a requirement for up to four intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) aircraft to supplement its ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | ISTAR Aircraft [South Korea]

  The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) has a requirement for up to four intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) aircraft to supplement its ...

• ISR/special mission

  E-6 TACAMO Recapitalisation Programme (E-130J) [USN]

  Programme Background The E-6 Take Charge and Move Out (TACAMO) Recapitalisation Programme (E-XX) provides for air vehicle replacement and mission systems modernization to augment and eventually ...

• Main battle tanks

  M1A2T Abrams [Taiwain]

  Programme Background Taiwan has had a long-standing desire to attain M1A1 or M1A2 Abrams from the US in order to replace elderly M60A3 TTS and CM11 ...

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

  MQ-9A Reaper Block 5 [Italy]

  Programme Background Initial Procurement Italy submitted a $330 million FMS request through the Defence Security Cooperation Agency for four MQ-9A aircraft, four GCS and five ...

• ISR/special mission

  MC-27J [Algeria]

  Programme Background Algeria has a long standing ISR aircraft requirement to support its Beech 1900 fleet comprised of six aircraft. The new ISR fleet is ...

• Submarines: nuclear/ballistic missile

  Dreadnought Class (Successor Programme) (1-4) [UK]

  Programme Background Requirements The Dreadnought-class, prior to being named in October 2016, was known as the Successor programme, which was approved by the government in May ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Surface-to-air missiles

  SM-2 Block IIIC/Block IIICU

  The SM-2 Block IIIC and Block IIICU are medium-range, surface-to-air missiles with active radio frequency seekers. Both missiles are modifications to legacy SM-2 Block III/IIIA/IIIB ...

• Man-portable missile systems

  FIM-92 Stinger

  The FIM-92 Stinger, passive-guided MANPADS, was developed by General Dynamics to meet the requirements of the US Army to defence against low-flying threats. It replaced ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  ESTL

  The Enhanced Survivability Technology (ESTL) is an integrated self-protection pod with missile approach warning (MAWS) manufactured by Saab. It is designed to counter RF and IR ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  SkyCeptor

  The SkyCeptor missile is a multi-mission interceptor developed collaboratively by Raytheon and Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. It is a derivative of the Stunner missile ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) Block 2

  The RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) Block 2 is a short-range, ship-launched missile designed primarily to defend naval vessels against incoming anti-ship missiles and aerial ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  SM-1MR Block VI

  The RIM-66 Standard-1MR is a medium-range surface-to-air missile that can also take on the role of an anti-ship missile. It was developed as part of ...

• Multipurpose missiles

  BGM-71 TOW

  The BGM-71 Tube-launched Optically tracked Wire-guided (TOW) missile entered US Army service in 1970. As well as being integrated on vehicles and helicopters, TOW can be ...

• Sea: ship surveillance and fire control systems

  MK 99

  The MK 99 is a fire control system developed and produced by Raytheon.  The system works as an interface to connect a vessel's missiles and ...

• Sea: weapon training

  SM-1 and SM-2 Standard Missile and Harpoon Missile with Guided Missile Launcher Mk 13 Mod 4 Simulator

  Textron's SM-1 and SM-2 Standard Missile and Harpoon Missile simulator simulates a guided missile launching system and guided missile launcher, Mk 13 Mod 4, in ...

• Air-to-air missiles

  AIM-92 Stinger

  The Air-to-Air Stinger (ATAS), designated as the AIM-92 Stinger, is a short-range air-to-air missile developed as a helicopter-launched configuration of the FIM-92 Stinger MANPADS. It ...

• Land: air defence radar

  LTAMDS

  The Raytheon Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense System (LTAMDS) is an active electronically scanned array Gallium Nitrade (GaN) radar. The use of GaN strengthens ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 Block IIA

  The SM-3 Block IIA is an advanced interceptor missile designed for exo-atmospheric engagements against intermediate-range ballistic missiles and limited intercontinental ballistic missile threats. The SM-3 Block ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  AN/SPY-3

  The AN/SPY-3 is a multifunction naval radar developed and manufactured by Raytheon. Its intended uses include horizon and surface search, navigation, periscope detection, discrimination, and ...

• Surface-to-air missiles, Surface-to-surface missiles

  RIM-174 Standard ERAM SM-6 Block I/IA

  The SM-6 (RIM-174 Standard ERAM) is a surface-to-air supersonic missile launched from cruisers and destroyers, capable of successfully engaging crewed and uncrewed, fixed- or rotary-wing ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  MIM-104 A/B Patriot (PAC-1)

  The MIM-104 Phased Array Tracking to Intercept of Target (Patriot) is an American Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) designed for air defence duties. The original Patriot entered US ...