• Defence Notes

  India dumbfounds global defence industry, even as it promotes indigenisation

  5th August 2020

  A recent Indian EoI-cum-RfP to global companies for management consulting towards speedy reforms of 41 archaic facilities of the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) is likely …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Four down, one to go for NATO AGS Force

  27th July 2020

  The fourth and penultimate RQ-4D UAV in the NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) Force arrived at Sigonella Air Base in Italy on 26 July after a …

• Air Warfare

  Japan researches future fighter technologies

  22nd July 2020

  Japan has not produced fighters since 2011, when the last F-2 was delivered. Therefore, Japanese companies such as Sumitomo Electric that produced radar domes and …

• Digital Battlespace

  ARC platform supports manned-unmanned ammo resupply project

  21st July 2020

  High-tech firearm accessories and analytics specialist Armaments Research Company (ARC) has received a $1.5 million contract to continue supporting a project that uses distributed, AI-ready ground …

• Land Warfare

  Poland orders more Grot rifles

  10th July 2020

  The Polish MoD has ordered 18,000 more MSBS Grot (‘Arrowhead’) rifles for the country’s army from FB Łucznik – Radom. Deliveries will take place from …

• Naval Warfare

  Can the UK’s National Shipbuilding Strategy be deemed a success?

  14th August 2020

  Nearly three years have passed since the publication of the UK MoD’s National Shipbuilding Strategy, a navigational map intended to revitalise naval manufacturing and create a …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  SpearUAV introduces the Ninox family

  6th August 2020

  SpearUAV has launched the Ninox family of encapsulated drones that can be launched manually or from a grenade launcher by individual soldiers, as well as …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Airbus delays UK Zephyr HAPS flight tests

  7th August 2020

  COVID-19 restrictions have forced Airbus Defence and Space to postpone Zephyr High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS) Operational Concept Demonstrator (OCD) flight trials, which were originally scheduled for summer …

• Training

  EDRE marks end of DEFENDER-Europe 20

  14th July 2020

  The DEFENDER-Europe 20 exercise, disrupted by COVID-19, will culminate when a US-based combined arms battalion conducts an Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise (EDRE) to Europe from …

• Land Warfare

  Rafael partners with Polish company for Spike SR production

  14th July 2020

  Rafael is to deepen its industrial co-operation in Poland with Mesko, after the two companies agreed on 14 July to co-produce the Spike Short Range …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Heron TP for Germany takes to the skies

  27th July 2020

  The Israeli MoD on 26 July claimed a ‘significant milestone’ in the German programme to lease and operate the Heron TP UAS, when the first …

• Training

  Italian Army receives initial UH-169Bs

  13th July 2020

  Leonardo has delivered its first UH-169B basic training helicopters to the Italian Army, as part of the broader AW169MA Light Utility Helicopter acquisition programme. ‘Two AW169 …

• Land Warfare

  Czech IFV procurement survives the axe

  21st July 2020

  Funding for core Czech Army modernisation programmes will remain uncut despite the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. A Czech MoD spokesman confirmed to Shephard that Prime Minister …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Poland procures additional Teledyne Gavias

  29th June 2020

  The Polish MoD has procured two additional Gavia UUVs from Teledyne Marine, which will be used by the country’s second and third Kormoran-class MCMV. Remontowa …

• Land Warfare

  LMUK expects to seal Warrior deal next year

  20th July 2020

  Lockheed Martin UK (LMUK) expects to sign a £800 million ($1 billion) sole-source contract in 2021 for the Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme (WCSP).  Currently, the …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - mini

  Action Plan of the Georgian Defence Force (FlyEye) [Georgia]

  Programme Background Action Plan of the Georgian Defence Forces 2020-30 In July 2021, the Georgian Minister of Defence, Juansher Burchuladze, outlined the country's military modernisation plan. ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Gryf [Poland]

  Background Requirements The Polish Ministry of Defence (MoD) identified the need for several ingeniously produced UAVs to provide ISTAR and strike capabilities for its armed forces ...

• Main battle tanks

  Wilk [Poland]

  Background The Wilk programme was included in the Polish MoDs Technical Modernisation Plan of the Polish Armed Forces for 2021-2035. It was primarily aimed at ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A (1-32) [Poland]

  Background Requirement In September 2019, the US State Department approved a possible FMS for up to 32 F-35A to Poland, which translated into a contract ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - mini

  Force Protection Drone Systems [Poland]

  Background Force Protection In November 2024, the Polish Defence Ministry's Armaments Agency signed a PLN 499 million (US$127.6 million) agreement with WB Group for 12 Force Protection drone ...

• Military UAS - mini

  FlyEye (Framework Agreement) (Uncontracted) [Poland]

  Background Pre-2023 contracts Across three orders, one in the early 2010s, another in December 2018 and another in February 2022, the Polish Territorial Defence Force ...

• Main battle tanks

  K2 Black Panther (Phase 1) [Poland]

  Background Requirement Poland's K2 purchase is the successor of the Wilk programme which aimed to replace the country's Soviet-era T-72 and PT-91 MBTs with a modern ...

• Frigates

  Miecznik (Swordfish) Programme (1-3) [Poland]

  Background Polish Armament Group is a consortium that was tasked with the development of the Miecnik class coastal defence vessels for the Polish Navy. Known ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Zefir (Uncontracted) [Poland]

  Programme Background Inception The Zefir programme required a MALE UCAV with an operating radius of up to 1000km. In 2018, Defence24 reported that Poland could ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  NBPWP Borsuk [Poland]

  Background Programme requirements One of the highest priority equipment procurement programmes for the Polish MoD is the procurement of a new, NATO-standard platform to replace ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Serwal Wheeled Armoured Vehicle [Poland]

  Background The existence of the Serwal programme was first revealed in May 2020, when the Secretary of State at the Polish MoD informed the Polish ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Zefir (Contracted) [Poland]

  Programme Background Inception The Zefir programme required a MALE UCAV with an operating radius of up to 1000km. In 2018, Defence24 reported that Poland could procure ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Bayraktar TB2 [Poland]

  Programme Background Requirement Under the Gryf programme, the Polish MoD identified the need for an indigenously produced MALE UAV to provide ISTAR and strike capabilities at ...

• Loitering munitions

  Gladius (2026) [Poland]

  Background 2022 Contract award In May 2022, Poland announced the signing of a PLN2 billion ($450 million) procurement contract for the supply of four Gladius batteries. ...

• Military UAS - mini

  FlyEye (Framework Agreement) (Contracted) [Poland]

  Background Pre-2023 contracts Across three orders, one in the early 2010s, another in December 2018 and another in February 2022, the Polish Territorial Defence Force ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - tactical

  PGZ-19R

  The PGZ-19R is a low-altitude, short-range tactical fixed-wing UAV. Based on the E-310 demonstrator, the platform has been designed to carry ISR sensors, search and rescue and ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  AW149

  The AgustaWestland 'AW149' is an 8t-class multirole battlefield helicopter developed by AgustaWestland (now Leonardo) launched in 2006, making its maiden voyage in 2009. For combat ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Krab

  Poland selected a modified version of the BAE Systems AS90M Braveheart 155mm/52cal turret to meet its requirement for a new SPH. Poland’s HSW is prime ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  BMP-1

  The BMP-1 (Bronevaya Maschina Piekhota-1) is a tracked amphibious IFV that was developed in the Soviet Union during the 1960s.  Entering service with the Soviet ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM, Naval: Radio and SATCOM

  R&S M3SR Series4400

  Rohde & Schwarz M3SR Series4400 is a VHF/UHF radio system designed for stationary and shipborne applications. It offers several proprietary frequency-hopping waveforms as well as data link ...

• EO/IR systems

  LRF Mod 4EC/6EC

  The Mod 4EC and Mod 6EC were designed specifically for remotely operated small platforms. The modules can be attached to Mini-Typhoon, CLAWS and other systems ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  SW-4

  The SW-4 is a light, single-engine, multi-mission helicopter designed to carry up to five people (pilots included) and to be operated during the day and ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  FA-50

  Based on the T/TA-50 trainer/light attack aircraft, the FA-50 is further developed and upgraded with a tactical data link, precision-guided munitions, and a self-protection subsystem. ...

• ISR/special mission, Maritime patrol

  A320neo M3A

  Currently under development by Airbus, the A320 M3A is the Maritime Patrol version of the civilian A320neo aircraft. The aircraft can be fitted with a wide ...

• Military UAS - mini

  FlyEye

  WB Group manufactures the FlyEye, a hand-launched mini-UAS designed to provide reconnaissance capabilities.  With a modular configuration and the ability to host multiple payloads, the Polish ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  AN/SQQ-89

  The AN/SQQ-89 is an ASW combat system incorporates and processes all the sonar information and LAMPS sensor data. Manufactured by Lockheed Martin, there are currently ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  R35010

  The Radmor R35010 personal role radio is a handheld, lightweight radio intended to operate in a small radio network between combat team members.  The R35010 ...

• Ship-launched torpedoes, Submarine-launched torpedoes

  Mk-48 Mod 6AT ADCAP

  The Mk-48 ADCAP (Advanced Capability) is the improved version of the Mk-48 family. Development started with the Mk-48 Mod 5 and continues to the present ...

• Land: RWS

  ZSSW-30

  The ZSSW-30 is an unmanned turret developed by a consortium of Huta Stalowa Wola (HSW) and WB Electronics. Armed with a 30mm cannon, 7.62mm coaxial machine ...

• 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.