• Defence Notes

  SM-6 undergoes MDA testing

  5th August 2015

  The US Navy has successfully tested the ability of the Raytheon Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) to intercept and eliminate short-range ballistic missile targets at sea, Raytheon …

• Defence Notes

  Aegis undergoes MMW tests

  4th August 2015

  The US Navy, Lockheed Martin and Missile Defense Agency's Aegis Combat System has successfully taken part in Multi-mission Warfare (MMW) tests aboard the destroyer vessel …

• Defence Helicopter

  Elbit wins two MUSIC system contracts

  4th August 2015

  Elbit Systems has been awarded two contracts for its MUSIC directed infra-red countermeasures (DIRCM) multi-spectral airborne self-protection systems family, the company announced on 3 August. …

• Land Warfare

  Romania aims for 2% defence spend

  31st July 2015

  A plan for modernization of Romania’s national army from 2015-2027 has been given the green light. It is expected that this will see defence spending …

• Digital Battlespace

  Skynet casts eye over Asia-Pacific

  23rd July 2015

  The Skynet 5A spacecraft from Airbus Defence and Space will go live in the Asia Pacific region at the end of August. Skynet 5A will …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  NATO CMRE goes passive

  15th July 2015

  NATO’s Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE) concluded its participation in trials of two unmanned underwater platforms for passive maritime surveillance in June. The …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  UAV options limited for RN’s new carrier

  13th July 2015

  The lack of a catapult on the UK Royal Navy’s new aircraft carrier will limit embarked unmanned operations after defence chiefs were tasked by Prime …

• Digital Battlespace

  NATO orders two Lanza radars

  13th July 2015

  The NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCI Agency) has ordered two Lanza LTR-25 3D long-range deployable air defence radars from Indra, the company announced on …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  IAI, Thales test UAS data link

  8th July 2015

  Thales and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) have conducted flight tests of the NATO STANAG 7085 data link on the Heron unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The risk …

• Digital Battlespace

  NATO activates ACCS

  7th July 2015

  NATO announced on 3 July that it has activated its Air Command and Control System (ACCS), with the first site in Italy becoming operational. The …

• Defence Notes

  UK to step up Ukraine forces training

  29th June 2015

  The UK will step up its training programme for the Ukrainian armed forces, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon announced at the NATO Ministerial meeting in Brussels …

• Defence Notes

  Poland joins NATO’s 2% club

  24th June 2015

  Poland’s defence spending has reached above the 2% benchmark according to a NATO report, amid general reductions by many other European alliance members. The NATO …

• Defence Helicopter

  Bell, LOM PRAHA sign MOU

  19th June 2015

  Bell Helicopter and Prague-based LOM PRAHA have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) covering a collaboration to reassemble, customise and maintain Bell Helicopter military aircraft …

• Military Logistics

  Cobham to support NDLO aircraft

  19th June 2015

  Cobham will provide aviation maintenance services to the Norwegian Defence Logistics Organisation (NDLO) under a £2 million contract announced on 17 June. The three-year contract …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  NATO unveils first AGS UAV

  8th June 2015

  NATO, along with Northrop Grumman and industry partners, unveiled its first Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) UAV on 4 June. The aircraft is a wide-area surveillance …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  BMD-4M

  Programme Background Since 2017, 11 battalion sets of the BMD-4M have been delivered to units of the VDV in addition to 27 located at the ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  BTR-MDM Rakushka

  Programme Background Since 2016, 11 battalion sets of BTR-MDMs are known to have been delivered to units of the VDV in addition to 12 platforms ...

• Main battle tanks

  2S25 Sprut-SDM1

  Programme Background The Sprut-SDM1 is an upgraded version of the Sprut-SD, a mere 30 of which were produced for the VDV between 2006 and 2010 ...

• Destroyers

  Maya Class (27DDG) (1-2) [Japan]

  Programme Background The 27DD Maya class destroyers were previously known as the Improved Atago class because they are an addition to the existing two Atago-class destroyers that have entered service. ...

• AEW&C

  Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (1-6) [NATO]

  Programme Background NATO’s E-3A AWACS fleet is set to retire in 2035, after 50 years of service. To plan for the required follow-on capability, NATO's ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (1-6) [NATO]

  NATO is estimated to procure up to 18 AEW aircraft under the Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (AFSC) programme to replace the current E-3 Sentry fleet when ...

• Data links

  Data links | Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (1-6) [NATO]

  NATO is estimated to procure up to 18 AEW aircraft under the Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (AFSC) programme to replace the current E-3 Sentry fleet when ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (1-6) [NATO]

  NATO is estimated to procure up to 18 AEW aircraft under the Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (AFSC) programme to replace the current E-3 Sentry fleet when ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (1-6) [NATO]

  NATO is estimated to procure up to 18 AEW aircraft under the Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (AFSC) programme to replace the current E-3 Sentry fleet when ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-390 Options [Portugal]

  Programme Background Leadership from Embraer and the Portuguese Air Force formalised a contract that includes 10 aircraft options that can be utilised by any NATO ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | A330 MRTT Follow-On [NATO]

  Six NATO member states, Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Luxembourg, Norway and the Netherlands, are planning to exercise an option to supply two A330 MRTT aircraft ...

• Data links

  Data links | A330 MRTT Follow-On [NATO]

  Six NATO member states, Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Luxembourg, Norway and the Netherlands, are planning to exercise an option to supply two A330 MRTT aircraft ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | A330 MRTT Follow-On [NATO]

  Six NATO member states, Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Luxembourg, Norway and the Netherlands, are planning to exercise an option to supply two A330 MRTT aircraft ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  C-390 [Portugal]

  Programme Background Leadership from the Portuguese Air Force and Embraer signed a contract for a sixth C-390, with the option for ten additional aircraft for ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) - (Greece)

  Programme Background EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) was announced in early 2022 and the project contract was awarded ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Major networking projects

  Ballistic Missile Defence

  In early 2010, NATO acquired the first phase of an initial theatre ballistic missile defence capability to protect alliance forces. 

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  BMD-2

  Between 1,000 and 2,000 BMD-2 (Boevaya Mashina Desantnaya - Airborne Combat Vehicle) amphibious IFVs were produced for the Soviet Airborne Forces (VDV) by the Volgograd ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  BMD-4M

  The BMD-4M is based on the BMD-4, which has been in the Russian Army's airborne forces (VDV) service since 2004. It was developed to provide an ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  BMD-1

  The Volgograd Tractor Plant (now known as the Volgograd Machine-Building Company) developed the BMD-1 amphibious IFV specifically to meet the requirements of the Soviet Union's ...

• Long Range Missile Defence Systems: > 90km range

  Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System

  The Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) System, developed by the United States, provides advanced sea-based and land-based protection against ballistic missile threats.  Using the AN/SPY-1 ...

• Land: battle management systems

  BMD-Flex

  BMD-Flex is a modular C2 software system for integrated air and missile defence. Built on T-Core, BMD-Flex’s features and functions can be tailored, ranging from ...

• Land: manned turrets

  Bereg

  KBP developed the Bereg one-person turret (referred to as a ‘combat module’ in Russia) to provide an upgrade option for the Russian-designed BMD-series airborne IFV ...

• Land: manned turrets

  Bakhcha

  The Bakhcha is the latest version of the two-man turret originally developed for the BMP-3 tracked IFV, which entered Soviet Army service in 1987.  It ...

• Long Range Missile Defence Systems: > 90km range

  Aegis Ashore

  Aegis Ashore is the first operational land-based version of the Aegis Combat System originally developed by Lockheed Martin for the US Navy's Ballistic Missile Defence ...

• Cannons

  2A70

  The 2A70 is a 100mm cannon that has been designed to equip infantry fighting vehicles, including the BMP-3, BMP-3F and the BMD-4M.

• Major networking projects

  NATO SATCOM

  Leonardo has been awarded a turnkey contract to rationalise and upgrade NATO’s SATCOM systems and associated infrastructure. The company will design, build, test, commission and ...

• Major networking projects

  NATO DCIS

  Airbus is delivering the NATO Deployable Communication and Information System (DCIS). The project represents a major upgrade in the capability of NATO Response Forces (NRF) ...

• Land: RWS

  Qimek NATO

  Rheinmetall's RWS family includes the Qimek single-weapon RWS and the Nanuk dual-weapon RWS. The Qimek NATO combines full stabilisation, long-range day/night all-weather sights and a ...

• Land: RWS

  Nanuk NATO

  Rheinmetall's RWS family includes the Qimek single-weapon RWS and the Nanuk dual-weapon RWS, which was introduced in 2008. The Nanuk NATO combines full stabilisation, long-range ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  BTR-MDM

  The BTR-MDM Rakushka is an amphibious tracked armoured vehicle developed by Kurganmashzavod to meet the Russian Airborne Forces' (VDV) need for a new air-droppable APC. ...