• Training

  Lockheed makes progress on TF-50 augmented reality project

  13th February 2024

  Lockheed Martin and Red 6 have achieved Phase 1 integration of Red 6’s augmented reality training solution into the TF-50 simulator.

• Air Warfare

  NATO’s E-3A fleet more important than ever, says force commander

  18th April 2024

  NATO’s E-3A fleet will have been in service for more than half a century by the time of their expected retirement but a boost to the capability and conflict elsewhere have highlighted their importance.

• Training

  How the US Space Force is training personnel for operations in contested scenarios

  19th February 2024

  The service has been developing and updating doctrine and policies, improving facilities and acquiring training and simulation capabilities.

• Air Warfare

  UK GCAP fighter effort can only survive if more funds are allocated, expert warns

  7th March 2024

  The urgency to address chronic issues of cost overruns and delays in UK defence procurement, particularly in complex and important initiatives like the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), have underscored the need for upfront honesty about project costs.

• Land Warfare

  Japan orders three Mission Master UGVs

  8th April 2024

  Part of Rheinmetall's Mission Master family, the Mission Master Silent Partner (SP) is an eight-wheeled UGV designed to fulfil various logistics and battlefield support roles. Since 2017, several countries, including the UK, Netherlands and an undisclosed Middle Eastern country, have made purchases for trials and development purposes.

• Naval Warfare

  US Coast Guard plans a $1.1 billion investment in shipbuilding in FY2025

  4th April 2024

  The service has requested funds to procure and build new vessels, as well as modernise its current fleet.

• Air Warfare

  How Russia’s declining arms sales is reshaping the global defence industry

  16th April 2024

  As Serbia considers a multi-billion-euro deal for French Rafale fighter jets, its move towards Western arms has signalled a significant departure from its reliance on Russian equipment, reflecting broader shifts in global defence procurement.

• Naval Warfare

  World Defense Show 2024: First NiDAR CUAS set for combat ships

  6th February 2024

  NiDAR has already been operational on M/V Asterix, a naval auxiliary ship to the Royal Canadian Navy, marking the first time the system was put to use on a NATO-associated vessel.

• Naval Warfare

  US DIA awards $305 million South Korean intelligence contract to HII

  20th March 2024

  US shipbuilder will provide analysis to help US Forces Korea (USFK) to detect threats and better understand enemy capabilities.

• Land Warfare

  AUKUS members seek solutions to integrate their ground capabilities

  25th March 2024

  The three countries plan to explore technologies to strengthen their collaboration in various land-related areas including artificial intelligence, autonomy, cyber, EW, hypersonic, quantum computing and logistics.

• Air Warfare

  Another Saab GlobalEye lands in the UAE

  25th April 2024

  The arrival of the latest GlobalEye marked the fourth AEW&C aircraft delivery to the UAE in just four years.

• Land Warfare

  Bahrain to buy 50 Abrams tanks under $2.2 billion deal

  20th March 2024

  Should the deal proceed, Bahrain would join the ranks of the US, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia in operating the M1A2 Abram tank.

• Training

  Saab wins three-year extension to British Army live training contract

  9th April 2024

  Instrumented Live Training (ILT-D) is an appended precision laser based tactical engagement system for vehicles, armoured platforms, heavy weapon systems and anti-tank weapons used in force-on-force exercises as part of collective training.

• Digital Battlespace

  Transforming the battlefield: How DARPA’s manufacturing innovations is fuelling military flexibility

  3rd May 2024

  DARPA has been attempting to revolutionise military logistics with innovative manufacturing programmes like SURGE. Such programmes have been aimed at streamlining the qualification process and enhancing distributed production to ensure quick, adaptable supply of critical military parts using advanced technologies.

• Training

  Turkey completes Romania air policing mission

  16th April 2024

  Turkish F-16 experience was praised by Romanian fighter pilots as Turkey completes first participation in NATO southern mission.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Maritime patrol

  P-8A POSEIDON [USA]

  Programme Background The P-8A Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) system is a heavily modified and militarized derivative of Boeing's 737-800 ERX commercial aircraft. The P-8A is ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | 40PB Flight II [USN]

  The US Navy has selected Metal Shark's Defiant 40 patrol boat design as a replacement for the fleet of force protection boats currently in use ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | 40PB Flight II [USN]

  The US Navy has selected Metal Shark's Defiant 40 patrol boat design as a replacement for the fleet of force protection boats currently in use ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | T-AOT (CONSOL tanker) [USN]

  The US Navy is procuring five tankers to support the transportation and distribution of bulk petroleum products in support of U.S. Navy and joint force operations. They ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | T-AOT (CONSOL tanker) [USN]

  The US Navy is procuring five tankers to support the transportation and distribution of bulk petroleum products in support of U.S. Navy and joint force operations. They ...

• Fighter - naval

  F-35B (FY2026-2031) [USA]

  Background According to U.S. budget documents throughout the decade, the U.S. Navy intends to acquire 324 F-35B STOVL aircraft. Prior to 2020, the U.S. Navy ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  MH-60R Seahawk [India]

  Background 2020 MoU On 25 February 2020, a letter of acceptance for 24 MH-60Rs, worth approximately $2.12 billion, was signed by India and the US in ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-53K [USA]

  Programme Background The USMC is replacing its ageing CH-53E helicopters with the CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter. Designed as an evolution of the CH-53E, the CH-53K is ...

• Maritime patrol

  P-8A Poseidon [UK]

  Background In July 2016, the UK government announced that it had ordered nine aircraft for service with the RAF. Under this frame, in January 2019, ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Constellation Class - FFG(X) (11-20)

  The US Navy ran the Next Generational Future Guided Missile Frigate (FFG X) programme to build a replacement for the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates, the ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Constellation Class - FFG(X) (11-20)

  The US Navy ran the Next Generational Future Guided Missile Frigate (FFG X) programme to build a replacement for the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates, the ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  T-AOT (CONSOL tanker) [USN]

  Background The US Navy is procuring ten tankers to support the transportation and distribution of bulk petroleum products in support of U.S. Navy and joint ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | F-35B STOVL Future Procurement - US Navy

  The US Navy is planning to order 115 F-35B STOVLs between FY2026 and FY2031 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated ...

• Data links

  Data links | F-35B STOVL Future Procurement - US Navy

  The US Navy is planning to order 115 F-35B STOVLs between FY2026 and FY2031 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | F-35B STOVL Future Procurement - US Navy

  The US Navy is planning to order 115 F-35B STOVLs between FY2026 and FY2031 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Maritime patrol

  US-2

  The ShinMaywa US-2 is an amphibious short take-off and landing aircraft used primarily by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) for SAR. 

• Military - USVs

  Voyager

  Voyager is an Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) built by US-based Saildrone. Voyager has been used by the US Navy (USN) and is one of three ...

• Military - UUVs

  Orca

  Orca is an extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicle (XLUUV) developed by Boeing for the US Navy (USN).

• Destroyers

  Kee Lung (Kidd) Class

  The Kee Lung-class consists of four ex-US Kidd-class guided missile destroyers in service with the Republic of China Navy (ROCN). The ships were originally built for ...

• Military - UUVs

  Mission Specialist Defender

  The Mission Specialist Defender is a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) developed by VideoRay, now part of BlueHalo's unmanned maritime systems. The ROV is known ...

• Military - USVs

  Explorer

  Saildrone's Explorer is the smallest of three USVs designed and built by the US-based USV manufacturer Saildrone. The system is used by the US Navy (USN) ...

• Data links

  GNOMAD US Domestic

  The US domestic version of GNOMAD (see separate entry) is a ruggedised system comprising a satellite antenna and baseband modular chassis that can be installed ...

• EO/IR systems, Sea: ship surveillance and fire control systems

  SeaFLIR 380-HD

  The SeaFLIR 380-HD is a long-range, multispectral surveillance system for surface vessels. Manufactured by Teledyne FLIR, the system combines HD IR, colour or SWIR spectral information. According to ...

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  MK266 High Explosive Incendiary with Tracer

  The MK266 High Explosive Incendiary with Tracer is a 30mm medium calibre round manufactured by Northrop Grumman. It is currently in use with the US Navy.

• Military - UUVs

  Snakehead LDUUV

  The Snakehead Large Displacement Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (LDUUV) is a US Navy (USN) Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (UUV) designed to be launched from submarine Dry Dock Shelters ...

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  XM1198 High Explosive Dual Purpose with Self Destruct (HEDP-SD)

  The XM1198 High Explosive Dual Purpose with Self Destruct (HEDP-SD) is a 30mm medium calibre round manufactured by Northrop Grumman. The US Navy uses the XM1198.

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  XM950 Target Practice Round

  The XM950 Target Practice Round is a 30mm medium calibre training round manufactured by Northrop Grumman. The US Navy uses the XM950 for training with its ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Integrated Combat System

  The Integrated Combat System (ICS) is a combat management system being developed for the US Navy. The project, currently led by Lockheed Martin, aims to ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Navy Multiband Terminal (NMT)

  The Navy Multiband Terminal is the next-generation maritime military SATCOM for the US Navy and allied nations. The terminal integrates EHF and AEHF systems with ...

• Air: EO/IR – Jamming Systems

  AN/AAQ-45

  Leonardo’s AN/AAQ-45 Distributed Aperture Infrared Countermeasures is designed to equip rotorcraft. The system is being installed on Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawk medium-lift utility helicopters used ...