• Digital Battlespace

  BAE Systems introduces gun-hardened GPS receiver for artillery, missiles and unmanned systems

  4th June 2024

  The A-PNT device will feature anti-jamming technology and will be manufactured at BAE Systems’ Cedar Rapids facility.

• 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.

• Naval Warfare

  SEA to trial sonar software for UK Royal Navy

  16th April 2024

  The UK Royal Navy’s anti-submarine warfare Spearhead programme, run by the service’s Develop Directorate, has been investigating future and existing technologies with a particular focus on the USV arena.

• Land Warfare

  The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle continues its success as the new variant rolls out

  20th March 2025

  The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) is becoming the dominant platform in its class as it replaces most of the massive US Army and US Marine Corps (USMC) fleets of HMMWV 4x4s, colloquially known as the Humvee. Shephard dives deep into the JLTV programme background and analyses the latest variants and contracts, including the controversial production switch to AM General and the continued contracts continuing to head Oshkosh's way.

• Air Warfare

  Should the US be concerned about the state of its nuclear arsenal?

  26th November 2024

  “We are going to get spare parts out of museums,” warns a former commander of USSTRATCOM.

• Land Warfare

  French Army to receive 109 CAESAR MkII howitzers from 2026

  3rd February 2024

  Nexter’s Caesar (CAmion Equipé d’un Système d’ARtillerie) 6x6, a 155mm/52cal weapon mounted on a Renault Trucks Defense 6x6 Sherpa chassis,

• Air Warfare

  Australia awards contracts for UAS platforms

  15th July 2024

  The orders break new ground for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) as they include an order for loitering munitions, the purchase of an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) and the first order for SkyMantis 2 in the region.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  DroneShield to improve software of DroneSentry-X C-UAS system under new contract

  4th April 2024

  DroneSentry-X, a cross-vehicle compatible, automated 360° C-UAS detect and defeat device, can offer 360° awareness and protection using integrated sensors. According to its manufacturer, it is suitable for mobile operations, on-site surveillance and on-the-move missions.

• Training

  General Atomics adds new capabilities to Predator trainer

  22nd March 2024

  The new Predator Mission Trainer upgrade was said to enhance mission realism with improved visual graphics and offer instructors streamlined control for a more efficient and student-focused learning experience.

• Naval Warfare

  New Spanish submarines to be fitted with Exail navigation system

  29th May 2024

  Spain’s S-80A or Isaac Peral-class SSKs are being built to replace the Spanish Navy’s existing Agosta 90B-class SSKs which were designed in the 1970s and built in the mid-1980s. The original S-80 programme has suffered considerable delays, with the first S-80s only entering service in late-2023.

• Air Warfare

  Assessing Saab’s future as an independent combat aircraft developer

  27th December 2024

  Can Sweden’s Saab continue to go it alone in the fighter jet market, or could it boost its profile by forging new partnerships?

• Digital Battlespace

  Security orders grow for Northrop Grumman’s FAAD C2

  18th June 2024

  Increased demand for security applications, especially for border and critical asset protection, has boosted orders for the company's Forward Area Air Defense Command and Control (FAAD C2).

• Air Warfare

  Malaysia gets go-ahead for Lockheed targeting pods

  8th May 2024

  Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod is an electro-optical targeting system housed in a single, lightweight pod. It provides automatic tracking, including a maritime mode, and laser target designation via real-time imagery presented on cockpit displays.

• Naval Warfare

  VideoRay awarded $92 million for MK20 Mission Defender USV development

  13th May 2024

  The VideoRay Mission Specialist Defender underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) is designed to handle unexploded munitions and has seven thrusters to allow a high standard of manoeuvrability.

• Naval Warfare

  Sailing into the Future: Fincantieri’s Digital Twin Revolution

  21st May 2024

  Fincantieri revolutionises shipbuilding using a Digital Twin, a computerised ship design incorporating real-world data from the completed vessel

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16V Procurement [Slovakia]

  Programme Background Earlier in April 2018, the US State Department announced that it has approved a possible FMS deal of 14 F-16V aircraft for an ...

• Aircraft carriers

  Queen Elizabeth Class

  The contract to begin the construction of the first ship was awarded in 2008, ten years after the programme was announced in the 1998 SDR. ...

• Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles

  Belgium Jaguar Medium Common Armoured Vehicle Platform

  Programme Background In its Strategic Vision for Defence document published in June 2016, the Belgian MoD outlined its aspirations for equipping five motorised manoeuvre battalions ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  6x6 APC (Philippines)

  Programme Background The Philippine Army has identified an urgent need for new wheeled APCs, after the Battle of Marawi exposed shortcomings in its existing fleet ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-15SA Saudi Arabia

  The aircraft deal includes 170 APG-63(v)3 AESA radar sets, 193 F-110-GE-129 Improved Performance Engines, 100 M61 Vulcan Cannons, 338 Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems amongst ...

• Fighter - multirole

  JAS 39E/F Gripen (Brazil)

  In 2016, Gripen’s Project and Development Center was opened in Sao Paulo to allow Sweedish and Brazillian engineers to work together in the Gripen development ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Belgium Griffon Light Common Armoured Vehicle Platform

  Programme Background In its Strategic Vision for Defence document published in June 2016, the Belgian MoD outlined its aspirations for equipping five motorised manoeuvre battalions ...

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

  Bayraktar TB2 (Qatar)

  Programme Background In 2018 at DIMDEX, it was revealed that Qatar had bought six Bayraktar TB2 UAVs from Turkey. The deal also included three ground control stations, ...

• Loitering munitions

  Artemis [US]

  Background Origin Artemis was begun in 2024 due to the demand from the US European Command and Indo-Pacific Command for UAVs that met the below requirements. ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  Tejas LCA - India Follow-On

  According to the HAL's chairman R Madhavan, 'apart from all the capabilities of IOC aircraft, the FOC variant additionally comes with an air-to-air refuelling capability, close-combat ...

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Replicator 1 [US]

  Programme Background Announcement & Requirement In late August 2023, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks announced the Replicator programme, an effort to galvanise an industry which ...

• Fighter - multirole

  JAS-39C/D Gripen Replacement [Czech Republic]

  Programme Background Requirements The Czech Republic Air Force operates 14 Gripens (12 JAS 39C and two JAS 39D variants) under a lease agreement that runs ...

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

  Multidomian Micro Drones [USSOCOM]

  Background Special Notice On 14 November 2024, a Special Notice was released that informed the industry that the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) was looking for ...

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

  Elbit Systems UAVs [Israel]

  Background Various Contracts On 3 December 2024, the Israeli Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced it had purchased "advanced drones and autonomous systems" from Elbit Systems in various ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  KC-46A (Follow-On) [Japan]

  Programme Background Requirement In May 2024, Australian Defence Magazine reported that the Japan Self-Defence Forces (JSDF) has been planning to increase its airborne refuelling and strategic transport ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  HF SDR

  Bharat Electronics Limited's High-Frequency Software-Defined Radio (HF SDR) was unveiled at the Aero India 2023 exhibition. The transceiver operates in the HF band and features ...

• Naval: Radio and SATCOM

  SDR-NC

  Developed by DRDO and produced by Bharat Electronics, the SDR-NC is a multi-mode, multi-band radio system designed for the Indian Armed Forces. Offered in at least ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  Bittium Tough SDR Handheld

  Bittium Tough SDR Handheld is a part of Bittium's Tough software-defined radio family. The transceiver supports Bittium's proprietary waveforms as well as ESSOR, and national ...

• UAS: communication systems

  NDR374

  The NDR374 is a 4-Channel Software-Defined Radio developed by the U.S. based manufacturer Epiq Solutions that can be used during rapid deployment and reliant support ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  BNET-AR

  BNET-AR Airborne SDR is a member of Rafael's BNET Family of IP Software Defined Radios. The modular, multiband system utilises an open architecture and provides ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  PR9560

  The PR9560 is designed for use by land forces, including infantry, forward observers, snipers, special forces, and anti-terror units, and can be utilized at either ...

• Air-to-air missiles, Surface-to-air missiles

  I-Derby

  The I-Derby is an advanced beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missile developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. It builds upon the capabilities of the original Derby missile ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  SDR-Tac

  The SDR-Tac is a four-channel software-defined radio for naval vessels, developed by India's Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and Bharat Electronics. It is in service with ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  AN/PRC-162

  The AN/PRC-162 is a two-channel software-defined radio that has been selected for the US Army’s Handheld, Manpack and Small Form Fit programme. The SDR is ...

• UAS: communication systems

  RX410

  The RX410 by Pixus Technologies is a rugged Software-Defined Radio (SDR) based on the National Instruments Ettus Research X410 model, designed to handle frequencies from ...

• UAS: communication systems

  Sidekiq VPX410

  The Sidekiq VPX410 is a high-performance, SOSA-aligned 3U VPX SDR, first unveiled in 2022. It facilitates access to critical frequency bands up to 18GHz by ...

• Data links, Land: Radio and SATCOM, UAS: communication systems

  QNT-200

  The Collins QNT-200 is a dual-channel software-defined radio (SDR) designed for size, weight and power-constrained platforms. Using IP-based mesh networks, it offers high-bandwidth mobile networking ...

• UAS: communication systems

  BNET NANO

  The newest member of Rafael's BNET family of Software-Defined Radios, BNET NANO was unveiled in 2021. BNET Nano provides capabilities similar to larger BNET radios ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  SDR-H Special Role Radio

  In February 2018, Domo Tactical Communications (DTC) announced the development of the SDR-H Special Role Radio (SRR), designed for tactical and special operations. The SRR ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  SDR Family

  Designed to provide high-speed data and voice communications to support land, maritime and air platform applications on the digital battlefield. The family of SDRs consists ...