• Defence Notes

  Tensions boil over along Sino-Indian border

  2nd June 2020

  India and China are the world’s two most populous nations, and their militaries are currently engaged in a faceoff high in the Himalayas. Confrontations have …

• Land Warfare

  Brazilian Army concludes M113 APC modernisation

  26th May 2020

  The Brazilian Army has reached a milestone towards the improvement of its vehicle fleet, by completing its  M113BR APC modernisation programme. This vehicle has been converted to the …

• Defence Notes

  Russia eyes new bases to project global power

  26th May 2020

  Recent statements from senior military commanders, as well as insight gleaned by Shephard from military analysts, indicate that Russia is intent on expanding and reinforcing …

• Air Warfare

  PLAAF airborne brigade receives wheeled armour

  12th May 2020

  A commissioning ceremony for a new wheeled armoured vehicle was held by a combined arms brigade of the airborne troops of the PLAAF on 6 …

• Land Warfare

  Rosomak broadens and deepens its engagement with Patria

  28th May 2020

  Rosomak SA, a subsidiary of the Polish Armaments Group (Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa, PGZ), is looking to extend its licence from Finnish OEM Patria Land Systems …

• Naval Warfare

  COVID-19 impact delays INS Magen delivery

  20th May 2020

  Delivery of the first of four Sa’ar 6 corvettes for the Israeli Navy is being delayed by the industrial impact of the COVID-19 coronavirus. The Israeli …

• Land Warfare

  USMC seeks exit route for tanks

  8th April 2020

  After announcing the planned removal of its entire MBT capability in its Force Design 2030 blueprint, the USMC is now working to define how these vehicles …

• Air Warfare

  Multimillion dollar makeover for Ohakea airbase in NZ

  22nd May 2020

  The New Zealand government announced on 21 May that it had approved an NZ$206 million ($126 million) upgrade for the Ohakea air base near Palmerston …

• Air Warfare

  Rafael to supply Litening 5 and RecceLite for M-346FA aircraft

  7th May 2020

  Rafael Advanced Defense Systems announced on 6 May that it is supplying fifth-generation Litening-5 and RecceLite systems for Leonardo’s M-346FA light combat aircraft (pictured). It …

• Digital Battlespace

  AVT delivers X-MADIS CUAS to DoD customer

  13th May 2020

  Ascent Vision Technologies (AVT) on 13 May confirmed that it had delivered several units of its newest eXpeditionary Mobile Air Defence Integrated System (X-MADIS) to …

• Digital Battlespace

  French jets use new RECO-NG pod to target Daesh

  4th May 2020

  The French detachment of Operation Chammal, which is supporting the US Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve, has begun using RECO-NG new generation reconnaissance …

• Defence Notes

  Latin American projects face COVID-19 problems

  27th May 2020

  The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic will affect future defence procurement projects in Latin America, as regional governments and militaries restructure their priorities. One of the first …

• Naval Warfare

  Turkish naval EO system finds its sea legs

  13th May 2020

  Aselsan has completed factory acceptance tests for the first two SeaEye Ahtapot EO reconnaissance and surveillance systems. Designed specifically for maritime applications, Ahtapot is the …

• Defence Helicopter

  H+S Aviation to support LHTEC CTS800 turboshaft engines

  11th May 2020

  H+S Aviation (a subsidiary of Global Engine Services) has signed an agreement with the Light Helicopter Turbine Engine Company (LHTEC – a JV between Honeywell …

• Air Warfare

  RAF Typhoons conduct more air strikes in Iraq

  7th May 2020

  A pair of RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft conducted air strikes against Daesh targets in north-east Iraq on the night of 28 April. The jets, operating …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• ARV (USMC) [USA]

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

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  ACV (US - USMC)

  Programme 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 ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, 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 helicopters - maritime, Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-53K - US Navy

  Programme Background The Marine Corps is replacing its aging CH-53E helicopters with the CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter. Designed as an evolution of the CH-53E, the CH-53K ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Main battle tanks

  M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams [Morocco]

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

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Joint Tactical Autonomous Aerial Resupply System (JTAARS) / Medium ULS-A [USA]

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

• 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 - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Large ULS-A / 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), which will provide logistics and ground units with their ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  VBMR Griffon (Batch 1) [Belgium]

  Programme Background In its Strategic Vision for Defence document published in June 2016, the Belgian MoD outlined its aspirations for equipping five motorised manoeuvre battalions ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  JLTV Procurement (USMC) [US]

  Programme Background The USMC is expected to procure 10,859 JLTVs to replace all of its HMMWVs on a like-for-like basis. Since the USMC has already ...

• Military UAS - small

  RQ-21A Blackjack / STUASLO - Replacement Units (USMC)

  Programme Background Joint USN and USMC Procurment The RQ-21 Blackjack, or STUALSO, was a combined United States Navy (USN) and United States Marine Corps (USMC) programme ...

• Loitering munitions

  Organic Precision Fire - Light (OPF-L) (Uncontracted) [USMC]

  Background Force Design 2030 The USMC Force Design 2030 is a modernisation effort to create a lighter, more agile maritime force. In May 2022, an annual update ...

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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Cottonmouth

  The Cottonmouth is a purpose-built 6x6 amphibious reconnaissance vehicle designed by Textron Systems to meet the requirements of the USMC's Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV) programme. It ...