• Defence Notes

  Malaysia’s defence budget sets out major procurement goals for 2026

  16th October 2025

  The country has allocated RM21.70 billion for defence spending next year, with some major procurements set to be initiated across the country’s army, navy and air force.

• Land Warfare

  NATO and Europe step up UGV efforts

  18th July 2025

  The effort to develop uncrewed ground vehicles (UGVs) is heating up with research efforts and exercises improving the speed of the process and the war in Ukraine is working as a proving ground for rapid development and fielding.

• Air Warfare

  July air forces review: Farnborough steals the headlines as programmes develop

  30th July 2026

  The biannual Farnborough International Airshow 2026 was the backdrop in July for scores of deals, partnerships and announcements, including developments in the multinational next-generation Global Combat Air Programme and the UK’s $486 million trainer aircraft requirement.

• Naval Warfare

  Will the US Navy surge production for OTH-WS missile?

  2nd January 2026

  The USN is conducting a market search seeking additional sources capable of supplying 516 units of Over the Horizon – Weapons System Encanistered Missiles.

• Air Warfare

  “Fifth-gen capability without the cost”: how autonomous strike can change the face of air warfare

  13th July 2026

  In Conversation… Armor Harris, Senior Vice President for Aircraft at Shield AI, talks to Shephard’s Gerrard Cowan about why cost-effective autonomous aircraft are a game-changer for air forces worldwide, and the key roles played by VTOL and AI as enabling technologies.

• Land Warfare

  UK agrees parallel development and production process for British Army Challenger 3

  23rd January 2026

  In a bid to accelerate delivery of the British Army’s Challenger 3 main battle tank, which has just carried out its first crewed firings with the latest Rheinmetall 120mm L55A1 smoothbore gun, the UK has opted for an unconventional approach.

• Land Warfare

  IDEF 2025: FNSS reveal new tracked fire support and reconnaissance vehicle

  21st July 2025

  FNSS Kaplan Fire Support and Reconnaissance Vehicle (FRSV) is based on the chassis of the Kaplan Medium Tank (MT) and is armed with a Northrop Grumman 30 mm MK44 dual feed gun.

• Land Warfare

  Lithuania increases ground capability and spending in a high-threat environment

  9th January 2026

  It has been more than two decades since Lithuania joined the EU and NATO, which followed the country’s independence from the USSR almost 15 years before that. The country is now in the shadow of the Russia-Ukraine war with air incursions from Russian ally Belarus.

• Naval Warfare

  What HII’s UK expansion could mean for Royal Navy’s uncrewed future

  14th January 2026

  As HII prepares to deliver its latest AI-enabled uncrewed surface vessel later this year, its major UK facility expansion aligns with the UK Royal Navy’s plans for a hybrid fleet.

• Land Warfare

  March land forces roundup: A new war confronts the old drone problem

  2nd April 2026

  The attack by the US and Israel on Iran which began at the end of February presented a Ukraine-like scenario of drone-led warfare – in fact the same drone type in the Shahed – and the problem of how to counter them.

• Land Warfare

  Germany signs multi-billion-dollar deals for 6x6 CAVS and GDELS Eagle vehicles

  19th December 2025

  The order is a further boost for the Common Armoured Vehicles System programme which has notched notable successes in the past 12 months. The first vehicle, made in Finland, will be delivered next year with local production expected to ramp up in 2027.

• Defence Notes

  Elbit Systems awarded $2.3 billion contract as results soar

  18th November 2025

  The company’s order backlog as of 30 September totalled $25.2 billion and more than a third of this is scheduled to be fulfilled before the end of 2026.

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2025: Lionstrike lays out plans for British Army vehicle bid as competitors get ready

  15th October 2025

  In September 2025, BAE Systems announced that it was joining GM Defense and NP Aerospace to form Team Lionstrike. The team will be offering a version of GM Defense’s infantry support vehicle which is based on the commercial Colorado vehicle.

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2025: AM General “on target” for JLTV full-rate production in 2026 as it uncrews a Humvee

  15th October 2025

  AM General believes it has completed working with customers for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicles to reach a final version of the vehicle and to prepare to begin producing vehicles under full rate production.

• Air Warfare

  Germany approved for possible $1.23 billion AMRAAM acquisition

  26th September 2025

  The potential foreign military sale for up to 400 missiles could be used to enhance Germany’s F-35 programme.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Loitering munitions

  Organic Precision Fire - Medium (OPF-M) [USMC]

  Background Request for Waiver (RFW) In April 2026, the USMC announced a new programme, the Organic Precision Fire - Medium (OPF-M), to equip the Fleet ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  ARV (USMC) [USA]

  Background The ARV constitutes one component of a wider USMC effort to develop an interconnected network of manned and unmanned platforms more suited to distributed ...

• Military UAS - small

  Medium Range/Medium Endurance (MR/ME) [USMC]

  Programme Background Force Design 2030 The USMC Force Design 2030 is a modernisation effort to create a lighter, more agile maritime force. The update to ...

• Military UAS - small

  Joint Tactical Autonomous Aerial Resupply System (JTAARS) [US Army]

  Background Joint Army and USMC effort In October 2016, the USMC and Army began the Joint Tactical Autonomous Aerial Resupply System (JTAARS) programme to determine ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Type 25 Reconnaissance and Surveillance Vehicle (CTWV) [Japan]

  Programme Background The CTWV was developed from the Mitsubishi Armoured Vehicle (MAV) that Mitsubishi developed in the early 2010s. In October 2022, the Japanese MoD ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  UH-1Y Venom (Czechia)

  Programme Background Czech Armed Forces intended to use the UH-1Y Venom helicopters in various missions including utility, search and rescue, aerial reconnaissance, air-to-ground support and ...

• Main battle tanks

  M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams [Morocco]

  Background The Moroccan Armed Forces have received substantial investment in recent years as the country seeks to maintain parity with its regional rival, Algeria. Among ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  ACV (Initial Batches) [USA]

  Background The Armored Combat Vehicle (ACV) programme is intended to provide a replacement for the USMC's fleet of Amphibious Assault Vehicle 7 (AAV7) tracked vehicles. ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Medium Range Tactical (MRT) [USMC]

  Background Request for Information (RFI) In February 2026, the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) issued an RFI for solutions for a Medium Range Tactical (MRT) ...

• Short Range Missile Defence Systems: 0 to 20 km range

  Marine Air Defence Integrated System [US]

  Background The Marine Air Defence Integrated System (MADIS) is a US Marine Corps (USMC) programme to counter UAVs, low-flying, high-speed fixed-wing aircraft, and helicopters using a mobile ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Medium Aerial Resupply Vehicle – Expeditionary Logistics (MARV-EL) [USMC]

  Background Joint Army and USMC effort In October 2016, the USMC and Army began the Joint Tactical Autonomous Aerial Resupply System (JTAARS) programme to determine ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Type 24 Armored Wheeled Combat Vehicle (CTWV) [Japan]

  Programme Background The CTWV was developed from the Mitsubishi Armoured Vehicle (MAV) that Mitsubishi developed in the early 2010s. In October 2022, the Japanese MoD ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Type 24 Mobile 120mm Mortar (CTWV) [Japan]

  Programme Background The CTWV was developed from the Mitsubishi Armoured Vehicle (MAV) that Mitsubishi developed in the early 2010s. In October 2022, the Japanese MoD ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Aerial Logistics Connector (ALC) [USMC]

  Background US Marine ULS-A programmes The US Marines are seeking a family of Unmanned Logistics Systems-Air (ULS-A) that will provide logistics and ground units with their ...

• Military UAS - small

  Long Range/Long Endurance (LR/LE) [USMC]

  Background Force Design 2030 The USMC Force Design 2030 is a modernisation effort to create a lighter, more agile maritime force. The update to the ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Crew-served assault/anti-tank weapons

  Yanjing Sabre-ER

  The Sabre-ER is a protective multipurpose missile launching system developed by Beijing Zhongzi Yanjing Automobile Co. It is integrated into their YJ2080C2 light armored vehicle, ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  LTMPAV Dino 519

  The Dino 519 is a light tactical multi-purpose armored vehicle (LTMPAV) developed by Team Concept, a Poland-based armored vehicle manufacturer. 

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  ACV

  BAE Systems teamed with Iveco Defence to offer a version of Iveco Defence Vehicle's Superav for the USMC's Armored Combat Vehicle Phase 1 Increment 1 ...

• Self-propelled rocket launchers, Unguided Artillery Ammunition

  73mm Recoiless Round

  US-based LD Systems' 73mm Recoiless Round is supplied with a thermobaric warhead designed to destroy targets in enclosed spaces. 

• Armoured engineer vehicles

  JAB

  The US Army is leading the Joint Assault Bridge (JAB) project to replace legacy M60A1-based bridge launchers in service with itself and USMC with an M1-based ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Flyer 60 ALSV

  General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (GD-OTS), in partnership with Flyer Defense, developed the Flyer 60 Advanced Light Strike Vehicle (ALSV) in parallel with the ...

• Light UGVs

  XM1216 SUGV

  The XM1216 Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle (SUGV) is a tactical system that can enter and secure areas that are either inaccessible or too dangerous for ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  ARV

  The ARV is currently being developed by General Dynamics Land Systems to compete for the USMC’s Armored Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV) programme. It was publicly unveiled for ...

• Crew-served assault/anti-tank weapons

  Corsar

  The Corsar (RK-3) is a light, portable anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) system designed and manufactured by the Ukrainian state enterprise State Kyiv Design Bureau 'Luch'. ...

• Unguided Mortar Ammunition

  81mm Mortar Bomb HE

  Franco-German KNDS-Nexter's 81mmMortar Bomb HE is a medium-calibre mortar bomb. It provides high-explosive indirect fire, effective against light structures, vehicles, non-armored assets and infantry troops, due to its ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  ALTV

  The ACMAT Light Tactical Vehicle (ALTV) is the first military pickup produced in France that is dedicated to tactical missions. Available as a two-seater single ...

• Land: RWS

  LW30/RS6

  The LW30 (since rebranded RS6) is part of the Protector RWS family developed by Kongsberg. Designed to carry a heavier armament than earlier Protector systems, ...

• Armoured engineer vehicles

  M1150 ABV

  The M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicle (ABV) project, launched by the USMC in 2002, is a joint programme to meet the requirements of both the US ...

• Military - USVs

  AIRCAT Bobcat USV

  The AIRCAT Bobcat is an Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) developed by Eureka Naval Craft. It is designed as an optionally crewed light supply vessel, specifically ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  EBRC Jaguar

  The Jaguar Armored Reconnaissance and Combat Vehicle (EBRC) is a 6x6 armoured reconnaissance vehicle manufactured by a consortium formed of Nexter Systems, Arquus (formerly Renault Trucks Defense) and ...