• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Australia’s air force aims its UAV fleet northwards

  3rd October 2024

  The Royal Australian Air Force is advancing its unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capabilities across three key programmes as it works with the likes of Boeing and Northrop Grumman to reshape Australia’s defence strategy.

• Defence Notes

  Brazil’s proposed $23.7 billion defence budget targets GDP-linked military funding

  24th September 2024

  Brazil’s 2025 budget proposals will see a 5.9% increase in defence spending, with funds allocated for key programmes including the procurement of helicopters, armoured vehicles and nuclear-powered submarines, despite looming fiscal challenges.

• Naval Warfare

  UK Royal Navy’s Littoral Response Group South makes Asia-Pacific debut

  16th August 2024

  The deployment will aim to strengthen the UK’s Indo-Pacific presence ahead of the potential 2025 arrival of a Carrier Strike Group.

• Digital Battlespace

  Piercing the fog of war via battlespace management

  30th August 2024

  Battle Management Systems are emerging as increasingly important tools for commanders making decisions in fluid combat situations.

• Air Warfare

  US F-15EX operational deliveries begin as plan to base aircraft in Japan unveiled

  9th July 2024

  Boeing was awarded a US$1.2 billion contract in July 2020 for the production of the first lot of eight F-15EX fighter aircraft with a planned procurement of 144 aircraft to replace ageing F-15C/Ds in service.

• Air Warfare

  Boeing has completed Phase 2 UAV testing in UK

  19th July 2024

  Boeing completed the second phase of its UAV testing in the UK with an Air Launched Effect mission to identify and jam an ‘enemy’ signal.

• Air Warfare

  First donated F-16s arrive in Ukraine but more pilot training will be ‘critical’

  7th August 2024

  Denmark and the Netherlands were the first Western nations to promise donated aircraft.

• Digital Battlespace

  Improved Hadron 640 designed to provide expanded capability for police forces

  20th June 2024

  As shown at Eurosatory 2024, the inclusion of Prism AI software into the Hadron 640 has allowed for a wider number of roles with a faster provision of data and information for decision-making in police and crowd security roles.

• Land Warfare

  Uruguay receives Mamba Mk7 APCs for peacekeeping operations

  29th July 2024

  The Mamba has been widely used in peacekeeping operations as a lower-cost alternative to more protected vehicles which are expected to go onto the frontline. It can be upgraded with the addition of optional extra armour including underneath the engine compartment.

• Land Warfare

  Rheinmetall eyes German Army requirement with new artillery rocket system

  19th June 2024

  The GMARS wheeled artillery rocket launcher offers greater mobility than the tracked M270 MLRS and double the firepower of the M142 HIMARS, and can support next-generation munitions. Germany has a requirement for 70 launchers and many other NATO armies are looking to renew or supplement their indirect fire capabilities.

• Special Operations

  Japan to set up DARPA-style institute to tackle evolving threat of cyber warfare

  14th August 2024

  Japan’s Ministry of Defense is devoting government-level effort and funding to tackling the growing problem of cyber warfare.

• 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.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Shark Robotics showcases its Colossus firefighting UGV at Eurosatory 2024

  19th June 2024

  Shark Robotics’ Colossus is an uncrewed ground vehicle developed with the Paris Fire Brigade, capable of carrying heavy payloads, operating in extreme temperatures, and featuring remote and future AI-based autonomous control.

• Naval Warfare

  Final NFS submarine for Italian Navy’s U212 NFS programme to be built

  28th June 2024

  The €500 million submarine, the fourth and final of the U212 NFS programme, will be built by Fincantieri at its Muggiano shipyard as work on the third NFS unit was also marked by a steel-cutting ceremony.

• Digital Battlespace

  Intelsat boosts SOF communications with advanced multi-orbit technology (video)

  7th May 2024

  Intelsat is enhancing communication solutions for special operations forces through an approach focusing on multi-orbit capabilities, network integration, and advanced terminal technology.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Submarines: conventional/attack

  Next Generation Submarines [Japan]

  Programme Background Requirements Japan typically only keeps submarines in service for around 20 years, a relatively short time for modern warships. The Next Generation Submarine is, ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  Light Combat Helicopter (India - Army)

  Programme Background Requirement India's requirement for light attack helicopters capable of operating at high altitudes became apparent during the 1999 Kargil War. Originally planned to reach ...

• Military UAS - small

  Z1 [US Army]

  Methodology PGO The programme has been assigned a PGO of 75%, indicating that it is likely a contract will be awarded. A factor contributing to ...

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

  Akinci [UAE]

  Programme Background Surprise Delivery Baykar, in a statement of its 2024 achievements, stated that it had delivered two Akinci UAVs to the UAE, one in ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A add-on [Belgium]

  Programme Background In order to fulfil pressing operational requirements, at the end of April 2025 Belgian leadership announced a new procurement of F-35A fighters; officials emphasised that ...

• Self-propelled rocket launchers

  K239 Chunmoo [Norway]

  Programme Background Norway previously operated a fleet of 12 M270 MLRS, which were put into storage in 2005 before being donated to Ukraine, via the ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A400M-Forecast [Indonesia]

  Programme Background The TNI-AU currently relies on 17 Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules and L-100-30 aircraft, including five C-130Hs transferred from Australia. Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) is ...

• Main battle tanks

  Leopard 2A4 [Czech Republic]

  Programme Background  The Czech Republic currently operates a small fleet of T-72s, which, while undergoing upgrades and life extension programmes, are increasingly obsolete. In October ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Buque de Acción Marítima - (7-8) [Spain]

  In May 2023, multiple Spanish media outlets reported that the Spanish Navy began the design studies for two new Buques de Acción Marítima (BAM) with ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Buque de Acción Marítima - (7-8) [Spain]

  In May 2023, multiple Spanish media outlets reported that the Spanish Navy began the design studies for two new Buques de Acción Marítima (BAM) with ...

• ISR/special mission

  E-6 TACAMO Recapitalisation Programme (E-130J) [USN]

  Programme Background The E-6 Take Charge and Move Out (TACAMO) Recapitalisation Programme (E-XX) provides for air vehicle replacement and mission systems modernization to augment and eventually ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A400M [Indonesia]

  Programme Background The TNI-AU currently relies on 17 Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules and L-100-30 aircraft, including five C-130Hs transferred from Australia. Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) is ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Fast Attack Vessel 250 (1-10) [Egypt]

  At NAVDEX 2023, Shephard understood that DIV M.E.S. and NVL are discussing with Egypt to supply the Egyptian Navy with up to ten FAV 250). ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Fast Attack Vessel 250 (1-10) [Egypt]

  At NAVDEX 2023, Shephard understood that DIV M.E.S. and NVL are discussing with Egypt to supply the Egyptian Navy with up to ten FAV 250). ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Future Submarine Acquisition [Philippines]

  The Philippines is looking into acquiring at least two diesel-electric submarines to form a submarine arm for the country. They currently do not operate any ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Data links

  IRB

  The Impact Rugged Baseband Kits (IRBs) are standalone or stackable ruggedised communications terminals enabling rapid configuration and deployment options across fixed and mobile platforms. The ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  IPS-250X

  The IPS-250X is an inline network encryptor that creates secure IP connections with US warfighters and government agencies, without the deployment limitations, logistics and lifecycle ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  LiteHUD

  BAE Systems' LiteHUD is a low-profile head-up display compatible with various aircraft ranging from conventional turboprops to next-generation fighter jets. 

• UAS: communication systems

  Black ICE Medium

  A member of Inmarsat's Black ICE family of SDR modems, Black ICE Medium provides secure BLoS communications for uncrewed and crewed aerial platforms. Notably, it is ...

• UAS: communication systems

  ORION X630

  The ORION X630 is a very small form-factor, two-channel MIMO tactical radio ideally suited for Vertical Height Antennas (VHA), uncrewed platforms, or any other application ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  R&S M3xR

  The R&S; M3xR family of radios is a generation of digital radios that can be used in mobile (manpack and vehicular form factor), stationary/shipborne (19in ...

• Data links

  Voyager

  The Klas Telecom Voyager system of systems is a modular scalable baseband product designed to meet the requirements of military communicators. It consists of a ...

• Land: battle management systems

  RPCS

  The Remote Payload Control Station (RPCS) is a third-level remote video terminal. It is designed for receiving real-time images directly from unmanned platforms (UAV, USV, ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  Flat Panel Manpack SATCOM

  Produced by ST Engineering, the Flat Panel Manpack SATCOM terminal provides Ku-band communications in a compact form factor. 

• UAS: Integrated systems - uncrewed

  MILOR

  The Miniature Integrated eLORAN Receiver (MILOR) is claimed to offer the smallest eLORAN location, timing and tracking solution available. Utilising the eLORAN system to provide ...

• Core systems: cameras and IR detectors

  Ophir IR optics optimised for 10-12µm LWIR detectors

  Ophir, addressing the new market shift in the direction of 10-12μm detectors, is offering a wide collection of lenses, optimised to meet the needs of ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Harris Airborne Multi-Channel Radio (HAMR)

  The Harris Airborne Multichannel Radio (HAMR) is a two-channel wideband radio designed to deliver voice, high-speed IP-networked data and full-motion video. It uses VHF/UHF networks ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  AN/ARC-232

  The AN/ARC-232(V) Starblazer is a single-channel radio that supports fixed- and rotary-wing applications. Designed by Raytheon, it is available in panel and remote mount variants.

• Air: Electronic Attack - Pod, Air: chaff/flare/decoy systems

  BOH

  Saab's BOH is a countermeasures self-protection pod for use on any fixed wing aircraft. BOH is an implementation of the Saab BOL countermeasures dispenser system ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  NEXIUM RuggSAT

  Thales' NEXIUM RuggSAT is a man-portable, on-the-pause SATCOM terminal that offers X- and Ka-band communications in a small form factor.