• Digital Battlespace

  Global Xpress on track for 2013 launch

  12th November 2013

  The first spacecraft in Inmarsat’s Global Xpress satellite constellation remains on course to be launched by the end of the year, according to Andy Start, …

• Defence Helicopter

  Pentagon raises Afghan Mi-17 concerns

  11th November 2013

  The planned withdraw of NATO forces from Afghanistan by the end of 2014 will leave Afghan special forces without adequate helicopter support, a Pentagon report …

• Defence Helicopter

  US DoD retains civilian airlift contractors in Afghanistan

  7th November 2013

  The US has extended three civilian contracts for helicopter air transportation in Afghanistan worth $272.9 million, it has emerged. On 1 November, the US Department …

• Land Warfare

  MEADS achieves new programme milestone

  7th November 2013

  The Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) has marked a new milestone with the successful interception of two simultaneous targets attacking from opposite directions during …

• Land Warfare

  Hearing protection fielding to US Army

  6th November 2013

  Danish voice communications company, Invisio, will be equipping units with the US Army with soldier hearing protection systems. A spokesman told Shephard on 5 November …

• Digital Battlespace

  UK outlines future SATCOM vision

  5th November 2013

  The UK MoD has described how implementing its next-generation capability strategy for satellite communications (SATCOM) will be affected by difficult budget restrictions. Addressing the Global …

• Defence Notes

  Dutch MoD welcomes extra budget

  30th October 2013

  The Dutch MoD has reversed a series of austerity measures after negotiations within the government led to the release of an additional €115 million into …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  ADEX 2013: Northrop Grumman may be close to Korean Global Hawk sale

  30th October 2013

  Northrop Grumman remains hopeful that South Korea will become the first export customer for the Global Hawk UAS. South Korea has had an interest in …

• Military Logistics

  Fourth C-17 Globemaster III delivered to India

  28th October 2013

  Boeing has delivered the fourth C-17 Globemaster III aircraft to the Indian Air Force (IAF), keeping the company on schedule to deliver a total of …

• Land Warfare

  INVISIO announces new NATO country V60 order

  17th October 2013

  INVISIO will supply its INVISIO V60 communication and hearing protection system to an unnamed NATO country’s army under an order announced on 17 October. The …

• Digital Battlespace

  AUSA 2013: Silynx launches next-generation headset

  16th October 2013

  Silynx will launch a next-generation variant of its C4Ops hybrid headset at the AUSA exhibition next week, aimed at supplying the technology beyond the special …

• Military Logistics

  Afghans receive two C-130s

  10th October 2013

  The Afghanistan Air Force (AAF) has taken delivery of two C-130H Hercules transport aircraft from US armed forces  during a ceremony at Kabul International Airport …

• Digital Battlespace

  Thales IFF systems selected for Brazilian Air Force

  9th October 2013

  Thales Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) transponders will be installed on A1M fighters and E-99 AEW surveillance aircraft in service with the Brazilian Air Force …

• Land Warfare

  Turkey selects Chinese missile defence system

  2nd October 2013

  In an unexpected move, Turkey has selected a Chinese firm as the preferred bidder for its Turkish Long Range Air and Missile Defence System (T-LORAMIDS) …

• Military Logistics

  Supreme secures Afghan fuel delivery contract

  26th September 2013

  The energy division of the US Defense Logistics Agency (DLA-E) has awarded Supreme Group a two-year contract to supply and store fuel for Afghanistan. Valued …

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. ...