• Defence Notes

  Ireland begins work on buying fighter jets and doubling the naval fleet

  3rd March 2025

  Since the release of Ireland’s Commission on the Defence Forces (CoDF) report two years ago there have been whisperings about the potential of Ireland buying fighter jets, one of the most ambitious recommendations. The prospect has now inched closer.

• Air Warfare

  Lessons learned from supplier switching on fast jet fleets

  31st December 2024

  How difficult is it for air forces to change aircraft fleets, moving from one defence hemisphere to another?

• Naval Warfare

  UAE Coast Guard orders 10 OPVs for $434 million

  20th May 2024

  A deal to supply 10 P51MR-class 51m offshore patrol vessels to the UAE Coast Guard was proceeded by the signing of an Abu Dhabi-based JV between Fincantieri and EDGE.

• Naval Warfare

  GD to build more replenishment ships under deal potentially worth more than $6.7 billion

  15th September 2024

  GD-NASSCO is currently under contract for the first nine ships of the class and has delivered three to date. With this award, the company is set to build 17 of the US Navy’s 20-ship programme of record.

• Air Warfare

  IDEX 2025: Jump 20-X marks the spot for AeroVironment

  19th February 2025

  AeroVironment showcased the Jump 20-X, an advancement of the company’s Jump 20 VTOL-capable fixed-wing UAV, at this year’s IDEX in Abu Dhabi.

• Training

  New army training facility for NATO soldiers opens at Virginia navy base

  28th August 2024

  The facility will make training for the ACFT significantly more comfortable and will aim to boost morale among troops.

• Land Warfare

  Rheinmetall completes qualification rounds for new kinetic tank ammo

  8th October 2024

  The company was commissioned to provide qualification samples of the new ammunition to the German Defence Forces and the British Army.

• Defence Notes

  NATO countries outline strategies to accelerate defence industrial production

  15th July 2024

  During the Washington Summit, member states also agreed to improve manufacturing capacities across the alliance and continue investing in joint projects with Ukraine.

• Defence Notes

  Trump enters the White House promising into bring the US military to a “golden age”

  21st January 2025

  The returning US president also reiterated a commitment to supply the services with “made-in-America” capabilities and to end conflicts worldwide.

• Training

  Fincantieri company launches VR and AR simulator for ROVs

  18th September 2024

  Designed for the Italian Navy, the simulator was presented at Mine Countermeasures Forces Command in La Spezia.

• Air Warfare

  Bulgaria’s first F-16 Block 70 takes flight

  29th October 2024

  Bulgaria has ordered a total of 16 F-16 Block 70 fighters, which will be delivered in two batches. Deliveries for the first lot are anticipated to commence in 2025.

• Naval Warfare

  Raytheon’s Barracuda completes anti-mine tests as company looks to expand role

  11th April 2025

  Raytheon successfully completed tests in February of the Barracuda uncrewed underwater vehicle (UUV) mine-neutralisation system which the company is building for the US Navy (USN).

• Naval Warfare

  Horizon-class vessels complete critical design review in mid-life upgrade

  8th April 2025

  The critical design review puts the vessels on course to be fully upgraded by the end of 2030.

• Naval Warfare

  Italian Navy finally takes delivery of Trieste

  10th December 2024

  The largest ship built in Italy in the post-war period has been delivered, and is expected to significantly boost Italy’s Amphibious Task Group.

• Air Warfare

  NH90 helicopter Block 1 upgrade launched

  14th June 2024

  Developed as a multinational programme, the European NH90 was designed to meet NATO requirements for multirole capability from a common helicopter.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  MiG-35 (Russia)

  The MiG-35 is a new-generation derivative of the twin-engine MiG-29 (NATO code-name ‘Fulcrum’) featuring multi-role combat capabilities, significantly reworked airframe and a vastly expanded arsenal ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Multirole Underwater Seabed Surveillance Ship (MU3S) [Italy]

  In June 2024, during a presentation provided at the NATO Maritime Security Centre of Excellence (MARSEC COE), the Italian Navy detailed the new capabilities it ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Multirole Underwater Seabed Surveillance Ship (MU3S) [Italy]

  In June 2024, during a presentation provided at the NATO Maritime Security Centre of Excellence (MARSEC COE), the Italian Navy detailed the new capabilities it ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | SIGINT Vessel Procurement [Spain]

  The Spanish Navy urges the replacement of the intelligence gathering ship Alerta, which has been in service since 1992. In April 2025, Spain released its upgraded ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | SIGINT Vessel Procurement [Spain]

  The Spanish Navy urges the replacement of the intelligence gathering ship Alerta, which has been in service since 1992. In April 2025, Spain released its upgraded ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Combat Supply Ship [Spain]

  Programme Background Requirements The Spanish Navy is seeking a replacement for the Patino replenishment oiler, which entered service in 1995. The new ship is regarded ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  SIGINT Vessel Procurement [Spain]

  Programme Background Requirements The Spanish Navy urges the replacement of the intelligence gathering ship Alerta, which has been in service since 1992. Prior to that, ...

• AEW&C

  Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (1-6) [NATO]

  Programme Background NATO’s E-3A AWACS fleet is set to retire in 2035, after 50 years of service. To plan for the required follow-on capability, NATO's ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Multirole Underwater Seabed Surveillance Ship (MU3S) [Italy]

  Programme Background Requirements According to the presentation provided by the Italian Navy, the MultiroleUnderwater Seabed Surveillance Ship (MU3S) will:operate a wide range of uncrewed systems, ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (1-6) [NATO]

  NATO is estimated to procure up to 18 AEW aircraft under the Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (AFSC) programme to replace the current E-3 Sentry fleet when ...

• Data links

  Data links | Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (1-6) [NATO]

  NATO is estimated to procure up to 18 AEW aircraft under the Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (AFSC) programme to replace the current E-3 Sentry fleet when ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (1-6) [NATO]

  NATO is estimated to procure up to 18 AEW aircraft under the Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (AFSC) programme to replace the current E-3 Sentry fleet when ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (1-6) [NATO]

  NATO is estimated to procure up to 18 AEW aircraft under the Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (AFSC) programme to replace the current E-3 Sentry fleet when ...

• Military UAS - small

  Puma 2 AE (Germany)

  Programme Background The Germany navy had an urgent requirement for three UAS required for reconnaissance and identification in maritime operations. A platform was required that ...

• Destroyers

  TF-2000 Destroyers (Milgem Project) [Turkey]

  Programme Background Requirements The TF-2000 class Air Defence Warfare (ADW) destroyers are part of Turkeys Milgem project to revitalise the fleet. The ships are intended ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Light machine guns

  LSAT LMG

  Textron Systems Unmanned Systems is developing and maturing a Lightweight Small Arms Technologies (LSAT) family of weapons and ammunition with the US Army that fires ...

• Assault rifles/carbines/shotguns

  6.5mm CT Carbine

  The 6.5mm Cased Telescoped (CT) Carbine is a closed-bolt, forward-feed, gas piston-operated weapon being developed as part of the US Army's Lightweight Small Arms Technology ...

• Anti-ship missiles, Surface-to-surface missiles

  3M-54 Kalibr

  The 3M-54 Kalibr, or Klub (NATO reporting name: SS-N-27 'Sizzler'), is a Russian surface ship and submarine-launched anti-ship and land-attack cruise missile.

• Air-to-surface missiles, Anti-ship missiles

  Kh-31

  The Kh-31 (NATO reporting name AS-17 Krypton) is a Russian anti-ship missile that is known for its anti-radiation (Kh-31P) and anti-ship (Kh-31A) versions.

• Naval: COMINT and ELINT systems

  Flat Track

  The Flat Track (NATO reporting name) is a barrage and deception radar jamming system that is able to counter anti-ship missiles.

• Land: Radio and SATCOM, Naval: Radio and SATCOM

  R&S M3SR Series4100

  Rohde & Schwarz M3SR Series4100 is a family of software-defined HF radios designed for stationary and shipborne communications. Offered in multiple configurations, they offer high-data-rate BLOS ...

• Major networking projects

  NATO DCIS

  Airbus is delivering the NATO Deployable Communication and Information System (DCIS). The project represents a major upgrade in the capability of NATO Response Forces (NRF) ...

• Land: RWS

  Qimek NATO

  Rheinmetall's RWS family includes the Qimek single-weapon RWS and the Nanuk dual-weapon RWS. The Qimek NATO combines full stabilisation, long-range day/night all-weather sights and a ...

• Land: RWS

  Nanuk NATO

  Rheinmetall's RWS family includes the Qimek single-weapon RWS and the Nanuk dual-weapon RWS, which was introduced in 2008. The Nanuk NATO combines full stabilisation, long-range ...

• Major networking projects

  NATO SATCOM

  Leonardo has been awarded a turnkey contract to rationalise and upgrade NATO’s SATCOM systems and associated infrastructure. The company will design, build, test, commission and ...

• Air-to-surface missiles, Anti-ship missiles

  Kh-35

  The 3M-24 Kh-35 (NATO Codename SS-N-25 Switchblade) is a long-range, radar-guided anti-ship missile in the same class as the Exocet. The jet-launched version of the subsonic, ...

• Destroyers

  TF-2000

  The TF-2000 class Air Defence Warfare (ADW) destroyers are part of Turkeys Milgem project to revitalise the fleet. The ships are intended to be NATO ...

• Anti-ship missiles

  P-800 Oniks/Yakhont

  The P-800 Oniks, known in exports as the Yakhont, is a Soviet supersonic anti-ship cruise missile and is a ramjet version of the P-80 Zubr. ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) Block 2

  The Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM) Block 2 is an advanced ship-launched surface-to-air missile developed by the NATO SeaSparrow Consortium. Building upon the capabilities of its predecessor, ...

• Corvettes

  Hainan Class (Type 037)

  The Hainan-class (Type 037) class is a range of corvette-sized vessels, mostly in service with the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy, which cover a range ...