• Uncrewed Vehicles

  DSEI 2023: Greensea unites business units to to create underwater robotics powerhouse

  13th September 2023

  Greensea Systems, a company focused on software for underwater systems, announced its transformation into a larger business after uniting its former subsidiaries Bayonet Ocean Vehicles and Armach Robotics into a new entity.

• Land Warfare

  Israel Aerospace Industries signs two loitering munitions deals

  23rd November 2023

  IAI has developed several loitering munitions or attack UAS including Harpy NG, Harop, Rotem and Mini Harpy. It has also been developing Point Blank, described as a 'hand-launched electro-optical guided missile' but much like the company's loitering munitions can dwell while confirming a target's nature.

• Air Warfare

  Germany's potential SCAF exit for GCAP unpacked

  3rd November 2023

  The leaked information about Germany leaving the Future Combat Air Systems (FCAS/SCAF) project and joining the rival Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) hints at the growing complexities and tensions within the Franco-German partnership.

• Land Warfare

  Swiss Leopards to fill holes left by Ukraine-bound tanks

  30th November 2023

  Switzerland has sold 25 retired Leopard 2 MBTs but only after Germany asserted that the tanks would stay with NATO or EU partners, to respect Swiss policy of neutrality.

• Land Warfare

  The M109-52 rolls into Washington DC

  10th October 2023

  BAE Systems has shown the M109-52 155 mm self-propelled (SP) artillery system for the first time at AUSA 2023.

• Naval Warfare

  Singapore orders new OPVs for renewed maritime security force

  21st November 2023

  The Singapore Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) has ordered new Offshore Patrol Vessels from German shipbuilder Fassmer to modernise its maritime security forces.

• Air Warfare

  France enters talks with Saudi Arabia for potential sale of 54 Rafale fighter jets

  25th October 2023

  Saudi Arabia had officially requested a detailed quote from Dassault for 54 Rafale fighter jets, with a deadline of November 10 for a response. The estimated cost for the deal could rise to nearly US$8 billion.

• Land Warfare

  Ukraine to receive SurveilSPIRE C-UAS systems from Germany

  6th October 2023

  A new order has been made for Ukraine to receive automated SurveilSPIRE C-UAS systems from Germany’s Rheinmetall and Estonia’s DefSecIntel.

• Land Warfare

  Rheinmetall receives another artillery order worth hundreds-of-millions of dollars

  10th October 2023

  The latest order is for the delivery of over a hundred thousand 155mm shells from the group’s new Spanish subsidiary Rheinmetall Expal Munitions as well as additional DM 121 high-explosive rounds.

• Naval Warfare

  German Armed Forces successfully concludes laser weapon demonstrator trials

  22nd September 2023

  The German Armed Forces has successfully completed trials of the laser weapon demonstrator (LWD) at sea, proving its combat effectiveness against various targets in realistic operating conditions.

• Defence Notes

  EU report: Europe needs more agile forces and a change in focus in the face of Russian aggression

  14th November 2023

  The 2023 EU Capability Development Priorities plan outlines changes in defence posture based on political guidance provided by the Strategic Compass, as well as lessons observed from Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

• Defence Notes

  Rheinmetall joins in Ukrainian JV on the support and manufacture of military vehicles

  24th October 2023

  Germany’s Rheinmetall will provide further support to Ukraine, on top of billions-of-dollars worth of munitions, by taking a majority stake in a military vehicles company.

• 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.

• Land Warfare

  Mercedes-Benz delivers 100-plus Zetros trucks to Ukraine in support of war against Russia

  6th September 2023

  Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks has delivered more than 100 Zetros off-road vehicles to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence for military support and logistics tasks under an initiative funded by the German government.

• Naval Warfare

  German F127 frigate programme moves to next phase, while Dutch say still open to joint procurement

  1st September 2023

  The initial analysis for the first stage of Germany’s Next Generation Frigate – Air Defence (NGFrig-AD, F127) programme has been completed, while Dutch shipbuilder Damen has reasserted the Netherlands' interest in a joint procurement.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Render Safe Sets, Kits & Outfits (RS SKO) (UAV) [US]

  Programme Background Definition The RS SKO provides capabilities needed for Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams to render safe US and foreign ordnance and improvised explosive ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Puma IFV (Contracted)

  By March 2019, 269 of the 350 Pumas on order had been delivered to the German Army. Deliveries of the remaining 81 vehicles are scheduled ...

• Loitering munitions

  Loitering Munitions [Germany]

  Programme Background Testing Models Between April 2023 and April 2025, the German Army acquired various loitering munitions to further asses their suitability to the German ...

• Frigates

  MKS 180 Programme (5-6) [Germany]

  Programme Background Requirements The MKS 180 frigate programme for the Federal German Navy reflects the desire for the German government to become more engaged on ...

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

  Zielplan Marine 2035+ (Rotary-Wing UAVs) [Germany]

  Programme Background Zieplan Marine 2035+ Chancellor Olaf Scholz said at the 2022 Bundeswehr Conference that Germany must become the "cornerstone of conventional defence in Europe". ...

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

  Vector / Scorpion (Ukraine Aid) [Germany]

  Programme Background German Enablement Initiative On 18 April 2024, Quantum-Systems announced that German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck and Ukrainian Minister of Strategic Industry Alexander Kamyshin had opened the ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  Heavy-lift Helicopter STH [Germany]

  Programme Background The German government issued a tender in March 2019 for the procurement of heavy-lift helicopters under the Schwerer Transporthubschrauber (STH) program, 60 units are ...

• Submarines: conventional, attack

  Type 212CD (1-2) [Germany]

  Programme Background Norway selected TKMS as the shipbuilder for its new class of Type 212CD submarines to replace the six Ula-class SSKs currently in service. ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Puma IFV (Germany - Second Batch)

  Programme Background The contract award for the second batch of Pumas had been delayed until 2022 at the earliest. However, in April 2021, German media ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Type 707 (1-2) [Germany]

  Programme Background Requirements The German Navy approved an acquisition to start replacing the two ageing Rhön-class (Type 704) class single-hulled tankers, which were constructed in the ...

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

  Zielplan Marine 2035+ (Fixed-Wing UAVs) [Germany]

  Programme Background Zieplan Marine 2035+ Chancellor Olaf Scholz said at the 2022 Bundeswehr Conference that Germany must become the "cornerstone of conventional defence in Europe". ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Boxer Heavy Weapons Infantry Carrier [Germany - Forecast]

  Programme Background The German Army is believed to require a total of 43 Boxer Heavy Weapons Infantry Carriers to equip its Division 2027. 36 of ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Puma IFV [Germany - Option]

  Programme Background The contract award for the second batch of Pumas had been delayed until 2022 at the earliest. However, in April 2021, German media ...

• Caracal 4x4 Light Air Assault [Germany]

  Programme Background By 2017, the German Army's airborne forces had initiated two programmes to replace legacy equipment currently in service. The first of these programmes, ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  VTMM 2 (Italy)

  Programme Background The Italian Army has a requirement for 633 VTMMs, known as Orso (Bear) in Italian service. These will be used to perform specialised ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• MPVs - 4x4

  Shrek

  The Shrek is an MRAP vehicle developed by the Streit Group in collaboration with the Ukrainian Kremenchug Automotive Plant (KrAZ). It is available in three ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  German HFTS

  Helicopter Flight Training Services (HFTS) was founded by the consortium of CAE, Airbus Helicopters, Thales and Rheinmetall Defence Electronics. Each company owns a 25% share ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  DURO IIIP

  The DURO IIIP (also known as the GMTF) 6x6 is a protected, mobile off-road armoured vehicle based on the DURO (Durable, Robust) family of 4x4 ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Fuchs 1

  Spanning now 8 variants, the Fuchs 1 is the German Army's longstanding wheeled armoured personnel carrier. The army received 1,125 Fuchs, with most delivered between 1979-86. ...

• Land: UGV simulators

  Remote Controlled Vehicle Simulation

  The Remote Controlled Vehicle Simulation is designed for users such as EOD forces.  Key features: use of original control devices; PC-based VR simulation; multiple scenarios ...

• Military - UUVs

  Bluefin-HAUV

  The Bluefin Hovering AUV (HAUV) is a two-man system used for ship hull and infrastructure inspection, port and harbour security and MCM. Operators are able ...

• Military UGVs

  Oto-TRP7-HS

  The Oto-TRP7-HS (Homeland Security) is a semi-autonomous, electric-powered, tracked UGV. It is designed to undertake a number of homeland security missions. 

• Land: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  Manpack-6 Bomb Ranger

  Manpack-6 is a portable jamming system that can be carried by a person in areas where there is a risk of encountering remoted controlled improvised ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Eagle V 6x6

  GDELS unveiled the fifth generation of its Eagle light tactical vehicle in both 4x4 and 6x6 models at Eurosatory 2012. The Eagle V has replaced ...

• Military UGVs

  Zeus

  NIC Instruments' Zeus UGV is a development of its First Responder (see separate entry) platform and was unveiled at Milipol Paris in November 2017. The company ...

• Military UGVs

  Vanguard

  The Vanguard UGV is designed to provide mission support for EOD technicians in both law enforcement and the military. It can be deployed in EOD/IED ...

• Military UGVs

  Telemax tEODor PRO

  The Telemax EOD and observation robot (Telemax tEODor) PRO is designed to complement Cobham's tEODor UGV (see separate entry) by providing a smaller EOD robot ...

• EO/IR systems

  Gyrocam 15DHD

  Gyrocam 15DHD is a 15in dual system that delivers HD and mid-wave thermal optics, in a modular payload that supports ISR missions. The 15DHD features ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Eagle V 4x4

  GDELS unveiled the fifth generation of its Eagle light tactical vehicle at Eurosatory 2012. The platform has replaced earlier-generation vehicles in production. More than 1,250 ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  MPV/GFF 4

  Iveco Defence Vehicles cooperated with KMW to develop the Medium Protected Vehicle (MPV). This vehicle is designed to have sufficient payload, protection, capacity and mobility to ...