• Land Warfare

  Insight: The UK's Challenger 3 tank programme gets ready for service in 2025

  4th September 2023

  Initially planned for service entry between 2027 and 2030, the British Army's first Challenger 3 tanks remain on track for accelerated delivery in 2025. Shephard Defence Insight provides full technical details and a programme update for this vital UK armoured capability.

• Naval Warfare

  Brazilian Navy looks to ‘homemade’ solutions to replace decommissioned ships

  18th January 2024

  A “Made in Brazil” mantra has been adopted by the Brazilian Navy to secure the future of its fleet following the decommissioning of approximately 40% of the service’s ships.

• Air Warfare

  RAF fighter pilot training situation is “unacceptable” for UK taxpayer, says industry official

  14th March 2024

  While the head of the Royal Air Force admits the ongoing issues with the service's ability to train its fighter pilots, no concrete plans were put in place to resolve the problem. What steps could the RAF take to ensure the readiness of its pilot force for future challenges?

• Land Warfare

  Rheinmetall to improve Skyranger 30 for Hungary’s Lynx KF41 mobile air defence vehicle

  20th December 2023

  The Skyranger 30 air defence system combines a 30mm cannon with a missile launcher options and a range of sensors.

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2023: BAE Systems integrates Red 6 and PLEXSYS tech into single synthetic environment training solution

  28th November 2023

  BAE Systems has revealed plans to integrate Red 6's Advanced Tactical Augmented Reality Systems (ATARS) and PLEXSYS' Advanced Simulation Combat Operations Trainer into its Project OdySSEy single synthetic environment.

• Land Warfare

  Latvia makes its largest defence investment in air defence system

  13th December 2023

  Latvia and Estonia have committed to purchasing Diehl IRIS-T SLM medium-range air defence systems with the system set to provide a substantial boost to Latvia’s air defence capabilities.

• Digital Battlespace

  Northrop Grumman to provide Defense Intelligence Agency with cloud services

  14th December 2023

  Neptune Phoenix, a nine-year, single-award contract, will include lifecycle management, engineering, design, development, purchasing, prototyping, data analysis, and test and evaluation.

• Land Warfare

  US Marine Corps outlines next steps to improve synthetic training capabilities

  6th December 2023

  The service has shown an interest in a range of training solutions from individual to battalion levels and plans to award multiple contracts ahead of new programmes set to run from FY2024 to FY2031.

• Naval Warfare

  Is the health of Russia’s submarine fleet improving?

  14th February 2024

  The Russian Federation Navy submarine service has struggled to modernise in recent years, but progress on two main acquisition programmes could mean that it has turned a corner.

• Naval Warfare

  New Zealand's HMNZS Te Mana successfully fires first Sea Ceptor missile

  5th December 2023

  CMS 330 is a combat management system developed by Lockheed Martin Canada that serves as the backbone for several Canadian and Chilean ship classes and has been installed on RNZN Anzac-class frigates.

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2023: Can military forces solve integration issues in the training domain?

  30th November 2023

  Deploying several simulation solutions with different operating systems and programming languages has been a challenge for armed forces worldwide.

• Air Warfare

  Is Turkey’s potential return to the F-35 programme aligned with evolving defence priorities?

  7th February 2024

  While the US remained open to Turkey’s potential reintegration into the F-35 programme, recent developments suggest the possibility that Turkey’s evolving strategic priorities and indigenous defence initiatives may question the necessity of the F-35.

• Air Warfare

  Elbit Systems to equip Philippine maritime patrol aircraft

  11th July 2023

  The Israeli company will integrate maritime patrol mission systems onto an ATR 72 turboprop for the Philippine Air Force.

• Land Warfare

  Hanwha Aerospace to supply artillery propelling charges to BAE Systems

  23rd November 2023

  South Korean firm wraps up a big week in the UK after agreeing deals with BAE Systems and Babcock International.

• Training

  An inter-connected and cyber-resilient enterprise system

  12th December 2023

  Modernizing training with fair-fight commonality at the highest fidelity for enhanced mission rehearsal.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Maritime patrol

  Long Range Patrol Aircraft [The Philippines]

  Programme Background On 10 July 2023, Elbit Systems announced that it had secured a contract for two long-range patrol aircraft. Although the customer was not ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  6x6 APC (Philippines)

  Programme Background The Philippine Army has identified an urgent need for new wheeled APCs, after the Battle of Marawi exposed shortcomings in its existing fleet ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8, Main battle tanks

  Tracked & Wheeled Light Tank (Philippines)

  Programme Background The decision to split the programme into a wheeled and a tracked element follows the belief of the Philippine Army that this will ...

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Magni-X (UK)

  Programme Background On 12 January 2022, Elbit Systems UK announced it had been awarded a contract from the UK MoD's Defence Equipment & Support's Future Capability ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) Project [UK]

  Programme Background Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) Project The British Army launched the RAS project to provide the "direction required to exploit emerging technologies to ...

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

  Watchkeeper X (Contracted) [Romania]

  Programme Background 2021 In mid-2021, the Romanian manufacturer Aerostar signed a collaboration with U-TacS to potentially produce the Watchkeeper X in Romania. U-TacS is a ...

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

  Hermes 900 StarLiner [Switzerland]

  Background Contract Information In September 2015, under the Reconnaissance Drone System 15 (ADS 15), the Swiss Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (VBS) awarded Elbit ...

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

  Watchkeeper X (Uncontracted) [Romania]

  Programme Background 2021 In mid-2021, the Romanian manufacturer Aerostar signed a collaboration with U-TacS to potentially produce the Watchkeeper X in Romania. U-TacS is a ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  Thor [Israel]

  Background Various Contracts On 3 December 2024, the Israeli Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced it had purchased “advanced drones and autonomous systems” from Elbit Systems in various ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A400M [Germany]

  Programme Background Germany originally said it would but 60 A400Ms, but when the program was re-baselined in 2010 reduced its planed off take to 53, ...

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

  Hermes 900 [Brazil]

  Programme Background First Batch (2014) In 2014, Elbit reported supplying the Hermes 900 to the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). The drone is called the RQ-900 in ...

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

  Hermes 900 [Undisclosed European Country]

  Background Various Contracts On 18 November 2024, Elbit Systems announced it had awarded various contacts with a combined $335 million to an undisclosed European country. ...

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Magni-X [Albania]

  Background Larger Deal In September 2025, the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Albania announced that Elbit Systems would supply Albania with various military ...

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

  Hermes 900 [Thailand]

  Programme Background Requirement The Naval Acquisition Management Office (NAMO) of the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) announced its intention to acquire one MALE UAV system comprising three ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  Thor [Albania]

  Background Larger Deal In September 2025, the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Albania announced that Elbit Systems would supply Albania with various military ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Artillery rockets

  EXTRA

  EXTRA is an Israeli 306 mm GPS/INS guided artillery rocket developed by IMI (Now a subsidiary of Elbit Systems as Elbit Systems Land) for use ...

• Towed guns

  Soltam M-71

  Elbit Systems M-71 towed howitzer is a long-range field gun incorporating advanced artillery systems. It was originally built by Soltam but the company was purchased ...

• Major networking projects

  ELBIT TIGER

  Tactical Intranet Geographic Dissemination in Real Time (TIGER) is a tactical communications system that integrates media, including legacy and narrowband channels, creating an end-to-end, unified ...

• Land: RWS

  Elbit UT50

  Announced in FQ4 2022, the Elbit UT50 is Elbit Systems of America's latest RWS mounted with a 50mm XM913 cannon. Elbit's development of a 50mm variant ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  PNR-1000

  Part of the E-LynX family, the PNR-1000 IP radio supports up to 64-member ad-hoc networking including full-duplex voice conferencing, data and video simultaneously. As the newest generation ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  Skyjam

  Skyjam, manufactured by Elbit systems, is a communication jamming system. The system can be mounted to a variety of airborne systems. 

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  Tzofit Training Centre

  In June 2009, Elbit inaugurated the Beechcraft King Air B200 Tzofit Training Centre for IDF pilots. Elbit Systems serves as the project’s prime contractor, while ...

• Unguided Artillery Ammunition

  M150 Smoke Projectile

  The M150 smoke projectile, manufactured by Elbit Systems, is an advanced 155mm smoke projectile artillery ammunition. 

• Air: chaff, flare and decoy systems

  ASF-3/-6

  Elbit Systems' ASF-3/6 spectral IR flares provide combat aircraft with increased survivability against MANPADS. 

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  Thor

  Thor is a VTOL small-UAV manufactured by Elbit Systems. The platform is designed for ISR missions and features a real-time HD data link and unique ...

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Magni-X

  Magni-X is a mini rotary-wing UAV from Elbit Systems. The aircraft was first unveiled in 2019 and was designed specifically for Short Range Reconnaissance (SRR) operations ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - Radar Warning Receivers

  SPS-3000

  The SPS-3000 radar warning receiver is a part of the advanced self-protection suite (ASPS), manufactured by Elisra Electronic Systems, now a part of Elbit Systems. 

• Light tanks

  ASCOD MMBT

  GDELS unveiled the ASCOD Medium Main Battle Tank (MMBT), a 120mm-armed 42 tonne tank based on its tracked ASCOD IFV, at Eurosatory 2018.  The ASCOD MMBT ...

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

  Skylark I-eVTOL

  The Skylark I-eVTOL is, as its name suggests, an electric-powered VTOL capable development of the Skylark I. Manufactured by Elbit Systems, the drone can be controlled ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  E-LynX MP Vehicular

  Elbit Systems' E-LynX MP (7200MP-VD55) is a dual-channel vehicular SDR that supports VHF, UHF and L-Band transmissions. The radio features VOIP and analogue interface support, Blue ...