• Land Warfare

  KNDS pitches new Leopard 2 variant as 'gap-filler' to MGCS next-gen tank

  19th June 2024

  The Leopard 2 A-RC 3.0 focuses on protection and firepower by taking the crew out of the turret, providing a 30mm cannon for C-UAS use and offering a 130mm or 140mm main gun option. It can be built new or delivered as an upgrade option for existing Leopard 2s to fill the 10-year gap before the Main Ground Combat System enters service.

• Land Warfare

  Will Ukraine war air defence experience unlock new markets for Korkut gun system?

  18th June 2024

  Aselsan’s Korkut twin 35mm air defence gun is a unique in-production self-propelled system that can be integrated on a range of tracked and wheeled platforms. Korkut is in Turkish service already, but the need for air defence and C-UAS capabilities highlighted by the Ukraine conflict may lead to greater foreign interest in this solution.

• Land Warfare

  The Italian Army’s ambitious IFV plan

  14th June 2024

  The Italian Army has plans in place to procure up to 679 tracked IFVs to replace 200 Dardo IFVs currently in service with its mechanised units, as well as its M113 fleet.

• Land Warfare

  European MBT market shifts: KNDS and Rheinmetall unveil competing platforms

  19th June 2024

  KNDS and Rheinmetall have been showcasing competing new MBT models at Eurosatory 2024, reflecting shifts in European defence procurement amid the ongoing continental conflict.

• Land Warfare

  GDELS’s Eagle 6x6 enters production for Swiss Army

  17th June 2024

  General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) has introduced its latest Eagle (6x6) reconnaissance vehicle, now in production for the Swiss Army and on show for the first time at Eurosatory 2024, featuring enhanced payload capacity, advanced sensor and command systems, and superior all-weather target engagement capabilities.

• Naval Warfare

  Belgium buys Exail’s R7 ROVs for underwater operations

  3rd April 2024

  The Belgian Armed Forces have ordered six R7 Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) from the French company Exail to allow for underwater inspection and disposal of explosive ordnance (EOD).

• Land Warfare

  PAC-3E uses Aegis to intercept live target

  21st May 2024

  The MIM-104F Phased Array Tracking to Intercept of Target (Patriot) Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) is a long-range, medium- to high-altitude, all-weather air defence missile designed to counter tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and advanced aircraft.

• Digital Battlespace

  German military introduces central command and new cyber branch

  5th April 2024

  The German defence minister claimed the reforms would mean the 2025 military budget would require an additional €6.5 billion (US$7 billion).

• Air Warfare

  Warning signals: Is the AEW aircraft market poised for a resurgence?

  10th July 2024

  The AEW aircraft market is evolving with the integration of AI, advanced sensors and increased information flow as evidenced by the Boeing E-7's upcoming replacement of aging NATO E-3 Sentry fleets and Saab’s innovative GlobalEye platform.

• Naval Warfare

  Military threats force through Australian frigate procurement

  9th July 2024

  Construction may have been started by BAE Systems on the first Hunter-class frigate but scepticism surrounds the general-purpose frigate programme due to delays and planning issues.

• Land Warfare

  Rheinmetall to supply 20 more Marder IFVs to Ukraine

  9th April 2024

  From 1970, 2,136 Marders were produced, with the latest German Army standard being the 1A5 which was upgraded for use in Afghanistan. Ex-German Marders have been in service in Chile and Ukraine, while Argentina uses the locally built VCTP, a derivative of the Marder.

• Training

  Radar training simulators for German Navy Engineering School pass FAT

  4th April 2024

  The German Navy has contracted UK information technology company OSI Maritime Systems to provide a navigation suite which has passed system testing for the F126 frigate.

• Naval Warfare

  Singapore launches fourth and final Type 218SG submarine

  23rd April 2024

  The era of southeast Asian submarine modernisation has been in full swing fuelled by growing tensions in the South China Sea.

• Defence Notes

  Rheinmetall rides high on Ukraine war and European demand

  14th May 2024

  The war in Ukraine has not only seen Rheinmetall and its subsidiaries up the tempo to meet demand for ammunition but also support air defence and vehicle requirements.

• 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.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Light UGVs

  L3 Harris T7 [USA]

  Programme Background  In 2021 and 2022 the US Air Force ordered over 107 L3Harris T7 EOD UGVs to replace its 20 year old fleet of ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  VAMTAC ST5 (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) [Spain]

  Programme Background The VAMTAC ST5 is already in Spanish service with the Spanish Army, Navy, and Air Force in various configurations. In June 2025, the ...

• 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 (Batch 3) [Germany]

  Programme Background The contract award for Germany's second batch of Pumas was originally scheduled for 2021, following the final deliveries of Germany's first batch. However, in ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Puma IFV (Batch 1) [Germany]

  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 ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Mine Countermeasures Platforms (1-12) [Germany]

  In 2018, the German Navy launched the process of acquiring a fleet of 11 Mine Countermeasures platforms. The German Navy's 'Force Structure Goals 2035+' foresees 12 ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Mine Countermeasures Platforms (1-12) [Germany]

  In 2018, the German Navy launched the process of acquiring a fleet of 11 Mine Countermeasures platforms. The German Navy's 'Force Structure Goals 2035+' foresees 12 ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | MEKO A-200 (F126 Alternative) [Germany]

  The German Bundestag is considering allocating funds up to 7.8 billion (US$9.14 billion) towards the procurement of an alternative to the F126, currently being manufactured ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | MEKO A-200 (F126 Alternative) [Germany]

  The German Bundestag is considering allocating funds up to 7.8 billion (US$9.14 billion) towards the procurement of an alternative to the F126, currently being manufactured ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Puma IFV [Germany]

  Programme Background The SPD-led approach Since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Germany has been under consistent pressure to increase its defence spending. In the ...

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

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

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

• 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 ...

• Loitering munitions

  12,000 Loitering Munitions [Germany]

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

• 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 (Batch 2) [Germany]

  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 ...

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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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

  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 ...

• Light 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Light 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Light 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 ...

• Light 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 ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Varan

  Streit unveiled the Varan 6x6 amphibious armoured vehicle at the IDEX defence exhibition in February 2013. The vehicle can be fitted with additional ballistic protection ...