• Defence Notes

  Disarmament efforts must include China as well as US and Russia, says Merkel

  18th February 2019

  China must be involved in international disarmament efforts, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on 16 February 2019, amid rising concern about Beijing's missile arsenal and …

• Naval Warfare

  Global Type 26 fleet will reach 32 vessels as Canada awards design contract

  8th February 2019

  Irving Shipbuilding has awarded a contract to finalise design work for the Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) programme, the latest milestone in the long-running effort to …

• Air Warfare

  Saab makes statement of intent on Tempest

  15th February 2019

  Saab is not ruling out potential involvement in major European future combat jet programmes with the company strongly hinting that it favours the British-led Tempest …

• Land Warfare

  BAE Systems wins ammunition contract

  31st January 2019

  BAE Systems has received a contract to supply 155mm smoke and illuminating artillery rounds to the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), the company announced on …

• Defence Helicopter

  UK Merlin Mk4/4a programme hit by delays

  7th February 2019

  The UK's ongoing AW101 Merlin Mk4/4a delivery programme has been delayed beyond its original end date of December 2020 after manufacturer Leonardo and the MoD …

• Special Operations

  Highnovate spotlights SOF rope access designs

  1st February 2019

  Israel-based Highnovate used its inaugural presence at the recent SHOT show in Las Vegas to highlight the company’s rope access products for military special operations …

• Military Logistics

  Keel authenticated for US Navy’s 12th EPF

  1st February 2019

  Construction of the US Navy's 12th Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) vessel has begun at Austal USA’s shipyard in Mobile, Alabama, on 29 January.   EPFs …

• Naval Warfare

  Diligence still on the cutting block

  7th February 2019

  The UK Royal Fleet Auxiliary's (RFA) former support vessel Diligence, put up for sale in 2016, appears to be struggling to find suitors after an …

• Defence Helicopter

  NH90 MTT ready for the high seas

  8th February 2019

  Although there are numerous NH90 sub-variants, more than there are customer nations, there are currently two main variants, the Tactical Transport Helicopter (TTH) and NATO …

• Digital Battlespace

  BAE receives contract from NGA

  25th January 2019

  BAE Systems has received a $250 million, five-year contract to continue providing advanced full-motion video (FMV) analytics, training and intelligence production support for the National …

• Land Warfare

  Rheinmetall, BAE Systems to form UK-based JV

  24th January 2019

  BAE Systems and Rheinmetall have signed an agreement to establish a UK-based joint venture (JV) for military vehicle design, manufacture and support activities, the company …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  MBDA’s Brimstone for UK Protector

  29th January 2019

  MBDA has received a contract for the integration of the Brimstone high-precision strike missile onto the Royal Air Force’s (RAF's) Protector RG Mk1 aircraft, the …

• Digital Battlespace

  Real-time satellite tasking moves closer

  30th January 2019

  Real-time satellite imagery is one step closer to becoming a reality as one European satellite image provider announces it will be providing imagery within 30 …

• Land Warfare

  INDOPACOM commander calls out China in testimony

  14th February 2019

  Adm Philip Davidson, commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) that contains 375,000 service personnel, testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee about the posture …

• Naval Warfare

  ADECS 2019: Indonesia orders more fast attack craft

  22nd January 2019

  The Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL) has ordered four additional KCR-60M fast attack craft, with these to be built by PT PAL. This will rise the number …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - small

  Tempest 50 [USAF]

  Programme Background Contract Award On 18 December 2024, the US DoD announced that the USAF had awarded Firestorm Labs a $100 million Small Business Innovation Research ...

• Trainer

  Hawk 127 Replacement (Future Lead-In Fighter Training System- Project Air 6002 PH1) [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirements The RAAF is seeking a future solution that provides a ‘relevant, adaptable, affordable and safe LIFTS out to 2050’ for training pilots ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Armoured Cavalry Vehicle [Canada]

  Background The Canadian Army is currently undergoing a generational transformation. Its organisational structure is being overhauled with a transition away from a geographical focus towards ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  24m Fast Mortar Vessels [Sweden]

  Programme Background In May 2023, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration announced the signing of a contract with Swede Ship Marine to deliver eight 24m Fast Mortar ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Roussen class [Greece]

  The Roussen class fast attack craft missile (FACM) is in service with the Hellenic Navy. The British-design FACMs also known as the Super Vita, has been improved ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Indonesian Navy PC-60M

  Programme Background Local Indonesian shipyard PT Caputra Mitra Sejati has designed and developed a class of fast patrol boats that have been ordered by the ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Mobile Tactical Cannon [US]

  Background The US Army began using the M777 in 1995. Since then, it has served as a field artillery piece providing fire support for American ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Fast Patrol Boats procurement (1-20) [Greece]

  Background Requirements In March 2025, the Hellenic Coast Guard published an updated version of its 2021-2027 Procurement Plan. The Plan has a total budget of ...

• Military - USVs

  Type 92 uncrewed underwater sense platform [UK]

  Background Requirements The Type 92 USVs will be required to complement the Royal Navy's existing anti-submarine warfare (ASW) assets in the Type 31 and Type ...

• Patrol boats

  Fast Patrol Vessels (1-8) [India]

  Programme Background On 28 March 2022, the Indian MoD signed a contract worth INR 4.73 billion ($62.1 million) with Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) for the procurement ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  New Water Jet Fast Attack Craft (NWJFAC) (1-31) [India]

  Programme Background Requirements The Indian Navy is seeking replacements for a large proportion of its 19 46-49m-long waterjet-powered fast attack craft, several of which are approaching ...

• Patrol boats

  Fast Response Cutters (68-77) [USCG]

  Background Timeline As reported by Shephard in July 2025, the US Coast Guard (USCG) will receive around $25 billion to cover the acquisition of new capabilities ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  UK supplied Fast Inshore Attack Craft (FIAC) [Ukraine]

  Background It was first reported in late September 2020 that the UK could provide eight Barzan-class fast attack craft to Ukraine. The platform has been in ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Magnar 1950-class high speed patrol boats (1-7) [Greece]

  Background Requirements As part of a wider programme to upgrade the capabilities of the Hellenic Coast Guard, it set out to procure five plus an ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  PKX-B Batch I (1-16) [South Korea]

  The Patrol Killer Experimental-B (PKX-B) class fast attack craft are also commonly referred to as the Chamsuri II-class or Patrol-boat Killer Medium Rocket (PKMR). They ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  INTeACT

  Developed by BAE Systems, INTeACT is a next-generation combat management system for surface vessels with a dedicated software development kit (SDK). Notably, it includes AI-powered ...

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - small

  Tempest 50

  The Tempest 50 is an American loitering munition and UAV from Firestorm Labs. Uniquely, 50 units of the UAV a month can be produced from ...

• UAS: communication systems

  Helix Mesh Rider

  Helix Mesh Rider is a SWaP (Size, Weight and Power) optimised mesh radio designed for uncrewed systems. Notably, it supports six frequency bands in a ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Fast Interceptor Craft

  The Fast Interceptor Craft (FIC) is a high-speed insertion craft developed and built by VT Halmatic, now part of BAE Systems Maritime. According to BAE ...

• Subsystems: software

  Vortex Simulation

  Vortex Simulation is a software platform for simulating tactical wheeled and tracked vehicles, speciality vehicles and non-tactical vehicles. Vortex lets training systems developers and engineers ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Sky Mantis 2

  Unveiled in March 2024, the Sky Mantis 2 is a mini rotary-wing drone manufactured by Evolve Dynamics.  Based on end-user feedback, the drone is an ...

• Data links

  QNT

  The QUINT Networking Technology (QNT) programme is intended to develop robust, affordable, miniature networked data link technologies suitable for use on weapons and by tactical ...

• Air: mission management systems

  RAFES

  Germany’s NBC defence C2 system, known as RAFES, is integrated into the overall FüInfoSys Heer army C2 system, adding NBC-specific functions to the standard mapping, ...

• Air: aerial targets

  BQM-34 Firebee

  The BQM-34 Firebee is an uncrewed aerial target system that the USAF and USN have used for more than 50 years. The primary mission of ...

• Military UAS - small

  Commander 3XL

  Described by the manufacturer, Draganfly, as the Swiss Army knife of drones, the Commander 3XL is a rotary-wing, multi-purpose UAV. The Commander 3 XL Hybrid is ...

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  Bofors 40mm 3P

  The Bofors 40mm 3P (Pre-fragmented, Programmable, proximity-fused) is a multi-purpose medium calibre round designed for the Bofors 40 Mk4, a gun system manufactured by BAE Systems ...

• Naval guns

  Mk 38 Mod 2/3

  The Mk 38 Machine Gun System is a stabilised self-defence weapon system intended for ships' self-defence capabilities in all weather conditions, day or night. Installed ...

• EW test systems

  FAST

  Functional And Stray voltage Tester (FAST) is a handheld armament pre-flight tester that functions as a flightline tester. It is used to perform ‘O’-level armament ...

• Trainer

  Hawk

  The BAE Systems Hawk trainer aircraft first flew in 1974, with the original Hawk T1 (designated Hawk 50 for export) entering service two years later ...

• Frigates

  Adaptable Strike Frigate

  The Adaptable Strike Frigate (ASF) is a frigate design developed by BAE Systems Naval Ships. Marketed as a platform characterised by strong modularity, the ship ...