• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Franco-British unmanned alliance makes gains

  23rd October 2017

  New details are emerging about the Franco-British collaboration on a Future Combat Air System (FCAS) as the programme readies for the transition from planning and …

• Defence Notes

  D&S 2017: China boosts arms sales to Thailand

  1st November 2017

  In the past two years China has achieved a surprising degree of weapon sales to Thailand. It reflects a closer relationship between the two countries …

• Defence Notes

  Raytheon Missile sales go from strength to strength

  27th October 2017

  Raytheon enters the final quarter of the year in a strong financial position supported by continued international and domestic demand across its missile portfolio. For …

• Naval Warfare

  D&S 2017: Malaysian navy adjusts command regions

  30th October 2017

  The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) formalised the relocation of its Region 2 Command from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan on 17 October. The relocation actually began …

• Land Warfare

  Poland, Korea launch K9 tech transfer

  1st November 2017

  Polish company Huta Stalowa Wola (HSW) and Korean defence firm Hanwha Land Systems have formally begun the technology transfer process to enable production of K9 …

• Military Logistics

  Royal Navy faces cannibalisation risks

  1st November 2017

  The Royal Navy could face further equipment cannibalisation despite the introduction of a Common Support Model (CMS) for the maintenance of its vessels this year. Findings …

• Military Logistics

  Kinetics transmission for AAV SU

  23rd October 2017

  Kinetics Drive Solutions' transmissions have been selected by Science Applications International (SAIC) for the Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV) Survivability Upgrade programme, the company announced on …

• Naval Warfare

  Partners picked ahead of Type 31 tango

  18th October 2017

  Key players in the UK’s shipbuilding and design sector have begun picking partners for the maritime dance-off to see who will get to build the …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Commercial UAV Expo 2017: Drones are rocking the mining industry

  27th October 2017

  The mining sector was one of the industries credited with rapidly evolving industrial drone applications at this week’s Commercial UAV Expo. As part of a …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Commercial UAV Expo 2017: Analysts project ‘lumpy and bumpy’ drone growth

  26th October 2017

  Speaking at this week’s Commercial UAV Expo in Las Vegas industry analysts addressed some conflicting projections regarding the potential size of the drone market. Two …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  UVision, Firstec sign South Korea agreement

  20th October 2017

  UVision Air has signed a follow-on agreement with South Korea’s Firstec for the marketing and supply of its loitering munition systems, the company announced on …

• Naval Warfare

  Making way for Medway

  20th October 2017

  The UK Royal Navy (RN) carried out the naming ceremony of its latest River-class OPV at BAE Systems Scotstoun shipyard in Glasgow on 20 October. HMS …

• Naval Warfare

  USCG transfers cutters to Costa Rica

  19th October 2017

  The US Coast Guard (USCG) has transferred two former cutters - Long Island and Roanoke Island - to the Costa Rican Coast Guard, the USCG …

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2017: AMPV for the modern soldier (video)

  13th October 2017

  BAE Systems displayed the general purpose variant of its Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) for the US Army at AUSA.  Mike Signorelli, deputy and VP strategy …

• Digital Battlespace

  BAE ups aircraft cyber defences

  12th October 2017

  BAE Systems is developing cyber defence capabilities to help aircraft detect and mitigate cyber attacks in real time, the company announced on 9 October. The …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - small

  Tempest 50 [USAF]

  Programme Background Contract Award On 18 December 2024, the US DoD announced that the USAF had awarded Firestorm Labs a $100 million Small Business Innovation Research ...

• Trainer

  Hawk 127 Replacement (Future Lead-In Fighter Training System- Project Air 6002 PH1) [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirements The RAAF is seeking a future solution that provides a ‘relevant, adaptable, affordable and safe LIFTS out to 2050’ for training pilots ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Armoured Cavalry Vehicle [Canada]

  Background The Canadian Army is currently undergoing a generational transformation. Its organisational structure is being overhauled with a transition away from a geographical focus towards ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  24m Fast Mortar Vessels [Sweden]

  Programme Background In May 2023, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration announced the signing of a contract with Swede Ship Marine to deliver eight 24m Fast Mortar ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Roussen class [Greece]

  The Roussen class fast attack craft missile (FACM) is in service with the Hellenic Navy. The British-design FACMs also known as the Super Vita, has been improved ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Indonesian Navy PC-60M

  Programme Background Local Indonesian shipyard PT Caputra Mitra Sejati has designed and developed a class of fast patrol boats that have been ordered by the ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Mobile Tactical Cannon [US]

  Background The US Army began using the M777 in 1995. Since then, it has served as a field artillery piece providing fire support for American ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Fast Patrol Boats procurement (1-20) [Greece]

  Background Requirements In March 2025, the Hellenic Coast Guard published an updated version of its 2021-2027 Procurement Plan. The Plan has a total budget of ...

• Military - USVs

  Type 92 uncrewed underwater sense platform [UK]

  Background Requirements The Type 92 USVs will be required to complement the Royal Navy's existing anti-submarine warfare (ASW) assets in the Type 31 and Type ...

• Patrol boats

  Fast Patrol Vessels (1-8) [India]

  Programme Background On 28 March 2022, the Indian MoD signed a contract worth INR 4.73 billion ($62.1 million) with Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) for the procurement ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  New Water Jet Fast Attack Craft (NWJFAC) (1-31) [India]

  Programme Background Requirements The Indian Navy is seeking replacements for a large proportion of its 19 46-49m-long waterjet-powered fast attack craft, several of which are approaching ...

• Patrol boats

  Fast Response Cutters (68-77) [USCG]

  Background Timeline As reported by Shephard in July 2025, the US Coast Guard (USCG) will receive around $25 billion to cover the acquisition of new capabilities ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  UK supplied Fast Inshore Attack Craft (FIAC) [Ukraine]

  Background It was first reported in late September 2020 that the UK could provide eight Barzan-class fast attack craft to Ukraine. The platform has been in ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Magnar 1950-class high speed patrol boats (1-7) [Greece]

  Background Requirements As part of a wider programme to upgrade the capabilities of the Hellenic Coast Guard, it set out to procure five plus an ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  PKX-B Batch I (1-16) [South Korea]

  The Patrol Killer Experimental-B (PKX-B) class fast attack craft are also commonly referred to as the Chamsuri II-class or Patrol-boat Killer Medium Rocket (PKMR). They ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  INTeACT

  Developed by BAE Systems, INTeACT is a next-generation combat management system for surface vessels with a dedicated software development kit (SDK). Notably, it includes AI-powered ...

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - small

  Tempest 50

  The Tempest 50 is an American loitering munition and UAV from Firestorm Labs. Uniquely, 50 units of the UAV a month can be produced from ...

• UAS: communication systems

  Helix Mesh Rider

  Helix Mesh Rider is a SWaP (Size, Weight and Power) optimised mesh radio designed for uncrewed systems. Notably, it supports six frequency bands in a ...

• 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 ...

• Subsystems: software

  Vortex Simulation

  Vortex Simulation is a software platform for simulating tactical wheeled and tracked vehicles, speciality vehicles and non-tactical vehicles. Vortex lets training systems developers and engineers ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Sky Mantis 2

  Unveiled in March 2024, the Sky Mantis 2 is a mini rotary-wing drone manufactured by Evolve Dynamics.  Based on end-user feedback, the drone is an ...

• Data links

  QNT

  The QUINT Networking Technology (QNT) programme is intended to develop robust, affordable, miniature networked data link technologies suitable for use on weapons and by tactical ...

• Air: mission management systems

  RAFES

  Germany’s NBC defence C2 system, known as RAFES, is integrated into the overall FüInfoSys Heer army C2 system, adding NBC-specific functions to the standard mapping, ...

• Air: aerial targets

  BQM-34 Firebee

  The BQM-34 Firebee is an uncrewed aerial target system that the USAF and USN have used for more than 50 years. The primary mission of ...

• Military UAS - small

  Commander 3XL

  Described by the manufacturer, Draganfly, as the Swiss Army knife of drones, the Commander 3XL is a rotary-wing, multi-purpose UAV. The Commander 3 XL Hybrid is ...

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  Bofors 40mm 3P

  The Bofors 40mm 3P (Pre-fragmented, Programmable, proximity-fused) is a multi-purpose medium calibre round designed for the Bofors 40 Mk4, a gun system manufactured by BAE Systems ...

• Naval guns

  Mk 38 Mod 2/3

  The Mk 38 Machine Gun System is a stabilised self-defence weapon system intended for ships' self-defence capabilities in all weather conditions, day or night. Installed ...

• EW test systems

  FAST

  Functional And Stray voltage Tester (FAST) is a handheld armament pre-flight tester that functions as a flightline tester. It is used to perform ‘O’-level armament ...

• Trainer

  Hawk

  The BAE Systems Hawk trainer aircraft first flew in 1974, with the original Hawk T1 (designated Hawk 50 for export) entering service two years later ...

• Frigates

  Adaptable Strike Frigate

  The Adaptable Strike Frigate (ASF) is a frigate design developed by BAE Systems Naval Ships. Marketed as a platform characterised by strong modularity, the ship ...