• Defence Notes

  Industry and procurement are up to the challenge of a manufacturing surge, says US Army acquisition boss

  26th January 2024

  US large vehicle defence programmes will have companies extremely busy towards the end of this decade with XM30, M1E3, M10 Booker and robotic combat vehicle likely to be rolling off production this decade and possibly simultaneously. The question is, can industry and the acquisition model handle the surge?

• Naval Warfare

  Is Australia’s plan for the surface fleet viable?

  21st February 2024

  Australia’s long-awaited Enhanced Lethality Surface Combatant Fleet review has recommended significant changes to the future make-up of the country’s surface fleet. It has received sharp criticism from some experts who claim the recommendations have not gone far enough, while others have described it as an attempt to run before being able to walk.

• Land Warfare

  AI, CUAS systems and armoured platforms set for spotlight at Eurosatory 2024

  10th June 2024

  Many of the manufacturers at Eurosatory 2024 will focus on burgeoning demand for vehicles, tanks, and UAS and CUAS systems.

• Naval Warfare

  UK Royal Navy orders more Remus UUVs

  7th May 2024

  HII’s Remus UUVs can be used for mine-countermeasure, harbour security and reconnaissance operations, as well as hydrographic surveys, environmental monitoring and debris field mapping.

• Land Warfare

  Hensoldt to send more TRML-4D radars to Ukraine

  3rd May 2024

  The Hensoldt TRML-4D, an air-defence radar based on the maritime TRS-4D radar, has been designed to provide similar scanning and surveillance capabilities to forces on land.

• Land Warfare

  Elbit Systems wins $300 million deal to supply vehicle systems to European customer

  20th February 2024

  Elbit Systems has won a contract to supply equipment and subsystems for a European country’s armoured vehicles which could include UT30 MK2 unmanned turrets and Iron Vision head-mounted displays.

• Naval Warfare

  Spain says farewell to the last of its Galerna-class submarines

  20th February 2024

  The four Spanish (S 70/Galerna) boats entered service between 1983 and 1985, but have now all been decommissioned, leaving Spain with just one active submarine.

• Air Warfare

  NSPA to support MRTT countermeasure systems

  8th May 2024

  Elbit’s J-MUSIC was the latest incarnation of the company’s MUSIC Direction Infrared Countermeasure (DIRCM) product. J-MUSIC differs from other members of the MUSIC family in that it is configured as a distributed system designed to outfit medium-to-large fixed-wing aircraft.

• Land Warfare

  Rafael successfully tests SPYDER All-In-One missile defence system

  15th January 2024

  The all-weather, network-centric, self-propelled, multi-launch, quick-reaction air defence system SPYDER (Surface-to-air PYthon and DERby) All-in-One (AIO) has been equipped with Python and Derby missiles.

• Training

  First US Navy T-54A training aircraft delivery arrives

  23rd April 2024

  Arrival of the first two T-54A multi-engine training system aircraft will allow the US Navy to begin the decommissioning process of its ageing T-44C Pegasus aircraft on schedule.

• Land Warfare

  New tank, new ammunition – increasing the Challenger 3’s firepower

  9th June 2024

  The main war shot of the Challenger 3 will be a 120mm Enhanced Kinetic Energy (EKE) round which will be developed under a German/UK government-to-government agreement.

• Air Warfare

  General Atomics looks to broaden Mojave UAV role amid FARA cancellation

  22nd February 2024

  The US Army has decided to channel portions of the terminated FARA helicopter funds into uncrewed platforms, while GA-ASI continues its work on broadening the applications of UAVs in attack and reconnaissance roles.

• Special Operations

  USSOCOM to deploy next-generation communications for sUAS in contested scenarios

  4th May 2024

  SOCOM will operate the PDW Blackwave system, which enables critical communications and the operation of small drones in highly congested environments.

• Land Warfare

  Avon Protection wins respirator contract worth up to $47 million from UK MoD

  10th May 2024

  Avon Protection’s General Service Respirator (GSR) is a twin-canister, single-visor mask which uses filtration technology to ensure protection while allowing communication.

• Naval Warfare

  Ecuador turns to local shipyard and international suppliers for military platforms

  15th February 2024

  As Ecuador attempts to combat so-called “terrorist networks”, the country has turned to the US and Turkey for equipment, while domestic construction and acquisition of new naval platforms has remained a slow process.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• 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

  Tactical Drone System (SDT) (15-28) [France]

  Background Tactical Drone System (SDT) programme The French Army launched the SDT programme to replace the Sagem (now Safran) Sperwer Intermediate Tactical Drone System (SDTI) ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  NMS 4x4

  Prior to the announcement that Qatar had signed a contract for 214 NMS, there were reports in 2017 that the Qatar Armed Forces were seeking ...

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

  CU172 Blackjack (First System) [Canada]

  Background Requirement The Canadian Army identified a requirement for two new tactical UAV systems after recognising that the squadron and company-level Aerovironment RQ-11 Raven (CU173 ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Heavy Lift VTOL (HVTOL) (Forecast) [US Army]

  Background USMC In September 2021, Kaman unveiled its Kargo UAV, which had been specifically designed to meet the requirements of the Joint Tactical Autonomous Aerial ...

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

  Tactical Drone System (SDT) (1-14) [France]

  Background Tactical Drone System (SDT) programme The French Army launched the SDT programme to replace the Sagem (now Safran) Sperwer Intermediate Tactical Drone System (SDTI) ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  Mini Intelligence Drone System (SMDR) [France]

  Background Requirement The French Army identified a need for a new tactical UAS to replace the Drac, which entered service in 2008. The Mini Reconnaissance ...

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

  CU172 Blackjack (Second System) [Canada]

  Programme Background Requirement The Canadian Army identified a requirement for two new tactical UAV systems after recognising that the squadron and company-level Aerovironment RQ-11 Raven ...

• Maritime patrol

  P-8 Poseidon [South Korea]

  Programme Background South Korea is facing an imminent submarine threat from North Korea. The Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) is operating an aging fleet of P-3C ...

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

  Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) (Increment 1) [USA]

  Programme Background Programme Objective The Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) was to provide a tactical ISTAR capability for US Army Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs). It was ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Joint Tactical Autonomous Aerial Resupply System (JTAARS) / Medium ULS-A [USA]

  Background US Marine ULS-A programmes The US Marines are seeking a family of Unmanned Logistics Systems-Air (ULS-A), which will provide logistics and ground units with their ...

• Loitering munitions

  N-Raven / IRIX [Greece]

  Programme Background Unveiled during the Defence Exhibition Athens (DEFEA 2023) exhibition, IRIX is a Greek version of the N-Raven loitering munition developed by Paramount in ...

• Loitering munitions

  Switchblade 300 [Australia]

  Programme Background Contract Award & Delivery On 8 July 2024, the Australian Government announced its soldiers would be equipped with Switchblade 300 following an acquisition ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  RQ-7B Shadow v2 Block III (USA)

  Programme Background The first iteration of the Shadow UAS, the Shadow 600, was first introduced in 1992 and since then Textron has had a longstanding ...

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

  Tactical UCAV [Czechia]

  Programme Background Inception In November 2017, the Chief of Staff of the Army of the Czech Republic (ACR) announced that the service had earmarked CZK1 billion ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Surface-to-surface missiles

  Precision Strike Missile (PrSM)

  The Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), developed by Lockheed Martin, is a next-generation surface-to-surface missile system designed to provide the US Army with enhanced long-range precision ...

• Surface-to-surface missiles

  MGM-140 ATACMS

  The MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) is an American surface-to-surface missile. ATACMS is described as the US Army's primary 24/7, all-weather, and surface-to-surface artillery precision ...

• Land: battle management systems

  AMDWS

  AMDWS (Air and Missile Defense Work Station), is a collaborative battlespace awareness information management system developed by Northrop Grumman to meet the requirements of the ...

• Artillery rockets

  GMLRS

  GMLRS (Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System), an extended-range guided version of the MLRS,  is a GPS/INS-guided 227 mm artillery rocket for wheeled M142 HIMARS and tracked ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  MIM-104E PAC-2 Guidance Enhanced Missile-Tactical ballistic missile (GEM-T)

  An upgrade to the PAC-2 missile, the Guidance Enhanced Missile TBM (GEM-T) is designed to defeat tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles or enemy aircraft in ...

• Land: infantry weapon simulators

  DX407 GT Simulator

  The DX407 is an indoor GT simulator for the Eryx short-range shoulder- and tripod-fired antitank missile. It is used for initial training and skill maintenance ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - MLDS, Air: Defensive Systems - Laser Warning Receivers

  LIMWS

  BAE Systems is leading the US Army’s Limited Interim Missile Warning System (LIMWS) initiative. This is intended to enhance the missile protection provided to US ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  CAMM-ER

  The CAMM-ER, the Common Anti-air Modular Missile Extended Range, is part of MBDA's CAMM family of next-generation air defence missiles. The missile is conceived to provide ...

• Surface-to-surface missiles

  Iskander-M/E/K

  The Iskander-M (NATO reporting name: SS-26 'Stone') is a short-range ballistic missile. It was the second attempt by Russia to replace the Skud after its ...

• 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 ...

• Major networking projects

  IBCS

  The Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS) is a C2 system designed to integrate current and future sensors. The system also improves ...

• 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 ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  HQ-9A/HHQ-9A

  The HQ-9 is a Chinese medium-range Surface-to-Air Missile equivalent to the Russian S-300. Its export version is known as the FD-2000. The missile is fitted ...

• Crew-served assault/anti-tank weapons

  Terminator

  The Jadara Terminator is a crew-served antitank missile launcher designed and manufactured by Jadara Equipment and Defence Systems in Jordan. It features a 107mm diameter ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  MIM-104 C/D/E (Patriot PAC-2)

  The MIM-104C Phased Array Tracking to Intercept of Target (Patriot) Advanced Capability-2 (PAC-2) is an American Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) designed for air-defence duties. The original ...