• Land Warfare

  Insight: The UK's Challenger 3 tank programme gets ready for service in 2025

  4th September 2023

  Initially planned for service entry between 2027 and 2030, the British Army's first Challenger 3 tanks remain on track for accelerated delivery in 2025. Shephard Defence Insight provides full technical details and a programme update for this vital UK armoured capability.

• Land Warfare

  I/ITSEC 2023: British Army could have saved £120 million in artillery ammunition, says manufacturer

  30th November 2023

  Cubic Blue Shell, a train-as-you-fight solution, has been in use by the British Army for three years offering an indirect fire training system that simulates artillery drills and weapons effects.

• Land Warfare

  DSEI 2023: Hanwha highlights UK industrial benefits of K9 Thunder British Army artillery bid

  13th September 2023

  Hanwha. which is offering the K9A2 self-propelled artillery system for the British Army's Mobile Fires Platform (MFP) requirement, is offering to bring additional R&D and upgrade work to the UK if it wins the contest.

• Digital Battlespace

  Kratos wins $579 million space defence contract for ground control system

  27th November 2023

  Kratos Defense and Security Solutions to provide satellite control capabilities to US Space Force and US Space Command.

• Land Warfare

  Poland takes delivery of first Rosomak IFVs with ZSSW30 turret system

  18th December 2023

  The ZSSW-30 is an unmanned turret with a 30mm cannon, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun and a launcher for two Spike LR2 air-to-ground missiles.

• Training

  DSEI 2023: Boeing and Red 6 partnership first to achieve successful AR integration on aircraft

  14th September 2023

  The partnership between Boeing and Red 6 has resulted in the successful flight testing of AR technology in a TA-4JA tactical aircraft, with plans to extend testing to the T-7 Red Hawk advanced trainer.

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2023: Collins Aerospace introduces Arcus TM training image generator

  28th November 2023

  Collins latest solution has combined the company’s rendering and processing tools with gaming technology for aircrew training.

• Land Warfare

  US Army to power its ground fleet with alternative fuels

  28th December 2023

  The service has been researching hybrid electric systems, fuel efficiency, operational power generation and battery storage, as well as the use of hydrogen and synthetic power sources.

• Digital Battlespace

  Riding the Data Wave: How the Military is Harnessing the Power of Data Integration (Studio)

  24th August 2023

  The future battlefield is extending beyond traditional realms; it is blending our physical world with new, digital realms. Success in the future operating environment will be dependent on leveraging a seamlessly integrated, data-driven, multi-domain environment that can efficiently defend against sophisticated technological threats.

• Air Warfare

  Brazil receives first fully operational upgraded E-99M AEW&C

  24th November 2023

  The updated E-99M aircraft features an updated Erieye Radar and C2 systems, as well as new EW and Identification, friend or foe (IFF) systems.

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy facing tough challenges in uncrewed vessel programmes

  5th January 2024

  The US Navy has major plans for uncrewed vessels, both surface and underwater, but faces programme challenges according to a review of information by the US Congressional Research Service (CRS).

• Training

  Synthetic training capability demonstrated to UK Royal Navy

  5th September 2023

  QinetiQ, Inzpire and BAE Systems have completed a demonstration of the Platform Enabled Training Capability (PETC) to the UK Royal Navy, a system designed to provide immersive collective training across multiple platforms for increased readiness and cost savings.

• Land Warfare

  Elbit Systems to supply USMC with NVGs under $500 million deal

  28th November 2023

  Elbit Systems of America has secured a second five-year contract to supply Squad Binocular Night Vision Goggles (SBNVG) to the US Marine Corps.

• Naval Warfare

  France orders seven offshore patrol vessels

  24th November 2023

  The first offshore patrol vessel (OPV) is scheduled for delivery in 2026 and 10 OPVs are expected to be in service by 2035. They are intended to replace the high seas patrol vessels based in Brest and Toulon, as well as the Cherbourg public service patrol boats.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  US Air Force enlists top five contenders for CCA wingmen programme: here are the details

  26th January 2024

  The US Air Force's flagship Collaborative Combat Aircraft programme has marked a significant step towards advanced uncrewed aviation, with contracts awarded to five companies.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  ACV-30 PRTV [USA]

  Background The Armoured Combat Vehicle (ACV) programme is intended to provide a replacement for the USMC's fleet of Amphibious Assault Vehicle 7 (AAV7) tracked vehicles. ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  ACV (Batch 2) [USA]

  Background The Armoured Combat Vehicle (ACV) programme is intended to provide a replacement for the USMC's fleet of Amphibious Assault Vehicle 7 (AAV7) tracked vehicles. ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  BvS10 [Sweden]

  Programme Background The FMV announced that it had signed a contract with BAE Systems Hägglunds for 127 BvS10 MkIIBs in May 2021. These were to ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  ACV (Initial Batches) [USA]

  Background The Armored Combat Vehicle (ACV) programme is intended to provide a replacement for the USMC's fleet of Amphibious Assault Vehicle 7 (AAV7) tracked vehicles. ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  ACV (Batch 3) [USA]

  Background The Armoured Combat Vehicle (ACV) programme is intended to provide a replacement for the USMC's fleet of Amphibious Assault Vehicle 7 (AAV7) tracked vehicles. ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | EA-37B [Italy]

  On 21 July 2025, Italy awarded L3Harris, in partnership with BAE Systems, a $300 million contract for two EA-37B Electronic Attack aircraft. BAE Systems is set ...

• Data links

  Data links | EA-37B [Italy]

  On 21 July 2025, Italy awarded L3Harris, in partnership with BAE Systems, a $300 million contract for two EA-37B Electronic Attack aircraft. BAE Systems is set ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | EA-37B [Italy]

  On 21 July 2025, Italy awarded L3Harris, in partnership with BAE Systems, a $300 million contract for two EA-37B Electronic Attack aircraft. BAE Systems is set ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | EA-37B [Italy]

  On 21 July 2025, Italy awarded L3Harris, in partnership with BAE Systems, a $300 million contract for two EA-37B Electronic Attack aircraft. BAE Systems is set ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  ACV (Batch 4) [USA]

  Background The Armoured Combat Vehicle (ACV) programme is intended to provide a replacement for the USMC's fleet of Amphibious Assault Vehicle 7 (AAV7) tracked vehicles. ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  AMPV [USA]

  Background Platform development The US Army initiated the AMPV programme to acquire a replacement for several variants of the M113 tracked APC, which has been ...

• ISR/special mission

  EA-37B [Italy]

  Programme Background  On 21 July 2025, Italy awarded L3Harris, in partnership with BAE Systems, a $300 million contract to supply two EA-37B electronic attack aircraft. ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  CV90 [Czech Republic]

  Programme Background The Czech Republic has been working on modernising its mechanised units at least since 2017, when the country launched its "Tracked IFV" programme ...

• ISR/special mission

  Airborne Electonic Attack (1-2) [Italy]

  Programme Background The acquisition effort involves a Direct Commercial Sale (DCS) for the procurement and installation of modifications and a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of ...

• OPVs

  River Class Batch 2

  Programme Background BAE Systems developed an improved version at the River class Batch 1 ships (which first entered service in 2003), to be dubbed the ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Integrated cockpit systems

  BAE Systems Avionics

  The avionics suite developed by BAE Systems, USA, is specifically designed for aircraft operating in harsh environments. The integrated suite includes caution and warning systems, ...

• Air: mission management systems

  BAE Systems Mission Computers and Display Systems

  The Mission Computers and Display Systems has been designed and developed by BAE Systems, UK, for military platforms. These systems are fully qualified to military, ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  F-35 Training System

  BAE Systems is involved in F-35 Lightning II Training System design and sustainment, working with prime contractor Lockheed Martin. BAE Systems leads the instructional systems ...

• Land: air defence radar

  Celldar

  BAE Systems and Roke have developed the Celldar passive radar which detects disturbances to civilian Global System for Mobile Communications digital cellphone networks operating in ...

• Naval guns

  Bofors 40 mk4

  Bofors 40 Mk4 is a naval gun system developed and produced by BAE Systems. It was originally produced by Swedish Bofors, which was acquired by ...

• 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 ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Training Services

  Working in Saudi Arabia, BAE Systems is the prime contractor supplying training solutions. These include managing the design, development, delivery and integration of pilot and ...

• Major networking projects

  Defence Architecture Framework

  BAE Systems is developing a broad base of systems architecture expertise to execute network-centric warfare projects on behalf of the Australian Defence Force. This is ...

• Main battle tanks

  MPF Prototype

  In 1992, the US Army selected the M8 to meet its requirement for an air-transportable Armored Gun System, but the programme was cancelled for budgetary ...

• Land: NVGs

  BAE Systems ENVG III/FWS-I

  The US Army tasked industry teams with meeting its Enhanced Night Vision Goggle III and Family of Weapon Sight-Individual (ENVG III/FWS-I) programme goals of providing ...

• Transport

  BAe 146M/Avro RJM

  BAE Systems is offering previously owned BAE 146 and Avro RJ aircraft to air forces operating ageing turboprop and jet airliners for transport and communications ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  T-650

  Debuted at DSEI 2021, the T-650, or T650, is a multi-role quadcopter UAS manufactured by BAE Systems in collaboration with Malloy Aeronautics.  The electric-powered platform produces ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  STRIX

  The STRIX is a prototype tandem-wing UAV that BAE Systems Australia is developing in collaboration with Innovaero. It is slated to begin operational service in 2026 and can be ...

• Unguided Artillery Ammunition

  L21 High Explosive (HE)

  The L21 High Explosive (HE) is a 155mm artillery shell manufactured by BAE Systems. The British Army uses the L21 with its Archer artillery systems.

• Air: air combat simulators

  Hawk Oman Training System

  In 2014, L3 Link (now L3Harris Technologies) received a contract from BAE Systems to develop the Hawk Oman Training System (HOTS). The training system will ...