• Defence Notes

  US military foresees growing use of 3D printing

  13th November 2025

  Advanced manufacturing has evolved to meet military requirements and now supports multiple US critical assets, including Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, F-18, F-22, F-35, Bradley, HMMWV and Patriot.

• Air Warfare

  Greece joins the F-35 Lightning II world alliance

  30th July 2024

  Greece has signed an offer for 20 F-35 aircraft with an option on 20 more platforms.

• Air Warfare

  “We need GCAP” to face evolving threats says RAF chief

  14th November 2024

  The UK Royal Air Force’s (RAF’s) chief of the air staff discussed the current state of the RAF and its need to be “match fit” for a changing warfare threat.

• Land Warfare

  British Army receives first 20 of 500 Rheinmetall HX trucks as part of $356 million order

  16th December 2024

  The vehicles were delivered to 7 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps based in Dalton Barracks and all 500 will be fielded before the end of September 2025.

• Land Warfare

  KNDS wins $667.2 million Canadian Leopard 2 service deal

  17th September 2024

  KNDS Deutschland has set up its own Canadian entity to facilitate the deal and will also build a dedicated maintenance and repair centre.

• Air Warfare

  Royal Thai Air Force's bid for Saab’s Gripens backed by defence minister

  15th January 2025

  The Thai government minister expressed confidence in the aircraft type, noting that a decision on the selection process between the Gripen and F-16 would be “made soon”.

• Air Warfare

  Air Warfare Preview 2025: A pressure-filled year ahead will see decisions made on major platforms and programmes

  18th December 2024

  Looming government decisions on major defence programmes in the US and UK will colour much of 2025, while manufacturers and their orderbooks look on.

• Air Warfare

  Assessing Saab’s future as an independent combat aircraft developer

  27th December 2024

  Can Sweden’s Saab continue to go it alone in the fighter jet market, or could it boost its profile by forging new partnerships?

• Air Warfare

  US Congress limits F-35 procurement

  20th December 2024

  Restrictions cover new purchases of the three variants of the multirole fighter and require the DoD to correct issues in the acquisition programme.

• Digital Battlespace

  Just Released: Space Technology Report

  3rd October 2024

  Why space is an essential part of modern military capabilities

• Air Warfare

  IDEX 2025: Industry poised to profit from Middle East air forces’ modernisation efforts

  14th February 2025

  Companies such as the Eurofighter consortium and Embraer, await potential orders from the Middle East, while countries including Saudi Arabia and the UAE work to add mass, modernise and replace ageing aircraft.

• Naval Warfare

  US Congress plans to invest more than $650 million on integrating the PAC-3 MSE onto US Navy vessels

  12th August 2024

  Congress has recommended an additional US$105 million for the initiative in FY2025 as it aims to accelerate the effort.

• Air Warfare

  China’s modernisation could “gradually erode” US advantage, says IISS

  13th February 2025

  China’s growing capabilities, such as newly unveiled combat aircraft designs and ongoing J-20 aircraft production, were noted as examples of the country's rapid modernisation efforts and military reforms.

• Air Warfare

  Industrial benefit or political distraction? Navigating the final assembly line

  24th December 2024

  Using the example of the F-35, does rolling out a domestic final assembly line make economic or industrial sense for countries wanting to purchase new aircraft?

• Air Warfare

  New Zealand accepts first C-130J

  9th August 2024

  The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) will operate a total of five Lockheed Martin C-130J tactical transport aircraft.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Destroyers

  Canadian Surface Combatant/River Class (1-3) [Canada]

  Development and Procurement Requirements Fifteen frigates are being procured to replace the Royal Canadian Navy's 12 ageing Halifax-class frigates and the now-retired Iroquois-class destroyers with ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Future Fighter Capability Project [Canada]

  Programme Background Canada’s defence policy estimates the acquisition of the aircraft, associated equipment and setup to enable entry into service will cost C$15-19 billion ($12.9-14.5 billion). In ...

• Destroyers

  Canadian Surface Combatant/River Class (4-15) [Canada]

  Development and Procurement Requirements Fifteen frigates are being procured to replace the Royal Canadian Navy's 12 ageing Halifax-class frigates and the now-retired Iroquois-class destroyers with ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  Future Aircrew Training Program (Helicopter Procurement) - Canada

  Programme Background The FAcT requires to graduate 120 pilots, 40 combat systems officers and 36 airborne electronic sensor operators per year with 15% fluctuation. Training services ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Canadian Surface Combatant/River Class (4-15) [Canada]

  The Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) project is part of the National Shipbuilding Strategy to replace both the Iroquois-class destroyers and the Halifax-class multi-role patrol frigates. ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Canadian Surface Combatant/River Class (4-15) [Canada]

  The Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) project is part of the National Shipbuilding Strategy to replace both the Iroquois-class destroyers and the Halifax-class multi-role patrol frigates. ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Canadian Surface Combatant/River Class (1-3) [Canada]

  The Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) project is part of the National Shipbuilding Strategy to replace both the Iroquois-class destroyers and the Halifax-class multi-role patrol frigates. ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Canadian Surface Combatant/River Class (1-3) [Canada]

  The Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) project is part of the National Shipbuilding Strategy to replace both the Iroquois-class destroyers and the Halifax-class multi-role patrol frigates. ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Canadian Surface Combatant/River Class [Canada]

  The Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) project is part of the National Shipbuilding Strategy to replace both the Iroquois-class destroyers and the Halifax-class multi-role patrol frigates. ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Canadian Surface Combatant/River Class [Canada]

  The Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) project is part of the National Shipbuilding Strategy to replace both the Iroquois-class destroyers and the Halifax-class multi-role patrol frigates. ...

• Trainer

  Future Aircrew Training Program [Fixed-wing Aircraft Procurement] - Canada

  Programme Background The new procurement will result in one contract covering all the requirements, including maintenance and infrastructure services. Training services are currently provided through ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-53K [U.S. Marine Corps]

  Programme Background The U.S. Marine Corps awarded Sikorsky a USD$10.855 billion contract covering up to 99 CH-53K helicopters. According to Lockheed Martin, this is the ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) [Japan]

  Programme Background Shephard notes that GCAP's Japanese, British and Italian components are tracked in separate entries. Programme Timeline 2020: The Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency of Japan issued ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  New Medium Helicopter (NMH) [UK]

  Programme Background NMH Market Interest Day On 11 November 2021, the MoD communicated the requirements of the £1 billion ($1.34 billion) New Medium Helicopter (NMH) ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16V Block 70 (Bahrain)

  Programme Background In 2018, the US government awarded a $1.12 billion contract to Lockheed Martin to produce 16 F-16 Block 70 aircraft for Bahrain, which ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  CMS 330

  Lockheed Martin Canada's CMS 330 is a combat management system designed as a modern, affordable solution for mid-life upgrades in particular. Initially developed for the ...

• Submarine-launched torpedoes

  Mk 48 Mod 7AT CBASS

  The MK 48 MOD 7 Common Broadband Advanced Sonar System (CBASS) is the latest variant of the Mk 48 torpedo family manufactured by Lockheed Martin and ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  AN/SPY-7(V)1

  The AN/SPY-7(V)1 is a solid-state naval surveillance radar produced and manufactured by Lockheed Martin. The system is expected to be fully integrated into programmes for ...

• Land: coastal surveillance radars

  JORN

  The Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN) is an over-the-horizon, three-radar surveillance system manufactured by Lockheed Martin. It is deployed across three radar locations in Australia ...

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Indago

  Indago is a small quadrotor UAV with VTOL. It is equipped with a large-screen handset and is marketed as 'whisper-quiet' with a noise level of ...

• Destroyers

  River Class (Type 26)

  The Type 26 Anti-Submarine Warfare frigate has been designed for the UK Royal Navy, but with an emphasis on export. Both the Royal Canadian Navy ...

• Maritime patrol

  P-3 Orion

  Lockheed Martin's P-3 Orion MPA is in service with 21 operators across 17 countries in a variety of standards, designations and configurations with an upgrade ...

• Trainer

  Phenom 100

  Phenom 100 is a very light jet originally developed for single owner-pilot operation but later gained popularity as a jet trainer aircraft. The platform first ...

• Sea: sonar systems

  TB-37(U)/AN/SQR-20

  The TB-37(U) is a Multi-Function Towed Array (MFTA) sonar developed by Lockheed Martin as the primary contractor, with L3Harris contributing to the production and providing Towed ...

• Land: battlefield and ground surveillance radar

  AN/TPQ-53

  The AN/TPQ-53 counterfire target acquisition radar can track incoming rounds at a range of 60km when using its 90° search mode or at 20km range ...

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

  Vectis

  Unveiled in September 2025, the Vectis is an MALE fixed-wing UAV from Lockheed Martin Skunk Works. The UAV is designed to operate alongside 5th and next-generation ...

• Fighter - air superiority

  F-22A Raptor

  F-22A Raptor is a fifth-generation stealth air superiority fighter with air-to-ground attack capability. It was developed by Lockheed Martin to meet the requirement of the USAF ...

• Naval: RF, IR and acoustic decoys

  ALEX

  Lockheed Martin’s Automated Launch of Expendables (ALEX) can be integrated into an EW suite or act as a standalone system. Modularity allows a number of ...

• Heavy UGVs

  AMAS

  The Autonomous Mobility Appliqué System (AMAS) is a multi-platform kit designed to integrate low-cost sensors and control systems onto US Army and USMC tactical vehicles ...

• Air: mission management systems

  ABCCC III

  The Airborne Battlefield Command and Control Centre (ABCCC) is a capsulised, integrated battle management and communications system that is installed in USAF EC-130E Hercules aircraft ...