• Training

  Philippines joins ANNUALEX Indo-Pacific naval exercise as observer as tensions rise in the region

  13th November 2023

  Annual Exercise (ANNUALEX), a multinational naval exercise including participants from Australia, Canada, Japan and the US, started on 11 November and will involve 30 ships and 40 aircraft.

• Naval Warfare

  Fourth US Navy TAO replenishment oiler launched despite cost concerns

  31st October 2023

  The fourth John Lewis-class (TAO-205) fleet replenishment oiler for the US Navy was launched in a ceremony at shipbuilder General Dynamics NASSCO’s San Diego facility on 28 October 2023.

• Naval Warfare

  New US Navy chief of naval operations sworn in after long delay

  3rd November 2023

  The swearing in of Adm Lisa Franchetti had been delayed which has been predicted to have medium-term effects on the service.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Milrem to supply large armed UGVs under a $200 million deal with the UAE

  24th January 2024

  Milrem's Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System (THeMIS) hybrid UGV features a modular design and open architecture which allows it to be reconfigured to serve as a transportation, weapons, reconnaissance or IED detection platform.

• Air Warfare

  Singapore Airshow 2024: Singapore’s Apache upgrade among plans to renew RSAF capabilities

  20th February 2024

  Singapore’s air force chief has confirmed plans to extend the life of the RSAF’s Apaches to beyond 2030, as well as revealing the next steps for future purchases of F-35s, replacements for its UAV fleet and updates to its ground-based air defence systems.

• Training

  How close are the US Armed Forces to having super soldiers within their ranks?

  27th December 2023

  Pentagon services are working on projects to increase warfighters’ abilities including brain stimulation.

• Training

  Trilateral autonomous undersea warfare exercise tightens the bonds of AUKUS

  10th November 2023

  The Integrated Battle Problem 23-3 exercise brought together Australian, UK and US naval forces test to autonomous undersea warfare capabilities.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Saildrone to produce USVs in Australia from 2024

  13th November 2023

  The use of long-duration Uncrewed Surface Vehicles for maritime surveillance and monitoring has become part of the fleet inventory as navies try to reduce the level of effort required to gather intelligence on areas of interest.

• Training

  How generative AI can improve military training

  3rd January 2024

  Using generative AI for military training can provide advantages such as analysing adversaries' behaviour and predicting their strategies.

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2023: Combined and joint exercises – when is bigger better?

  26th November 2023

  Why armed forces need to focus on the challenges associated with conducting military exercises at different levels and domains, by focusing on interoperability, as well as joint and combined operations.

• Land Warfare

  What will next-generation mortars look like?

  6th January 2024

  Future mortars will offer improved mobility and range, along with advanced guided capacities, as the speed of war continues to increase.

• Air Warfare

  Altius 700 air-launched UAV completes first successful flight demonstration

  5th January 2024

  The Altius 700 was developed as an air vehicle solution to address the size, weight and power requirements in the approved May 2020 Launched Effects Abbreviated Capabilities Development Document and has marked a further development of the Altius 600.

• Land Warfare

  US Army explores sending ground robots underwater for logistics supply

  2nd January 2024

  The US Army is conducting research with commercially available solutions to assess their performance carrying diverse types of payloads.

• Land Warfare

  Northrop completes Sentinel ICBM chamber tests

  17th January 2024

  As the land element of the US nuclear triad, Sentinel will include a fully integrated launch, flight and infrastructure system with modern C2 features. It is designed to operate into the 2070s as a replacement for the LGM-30 Minuteman III intercontinental nuclear ballistic missile.

• Naval Warfare

  New Italian Navy uncrewed systems receive initial funding

  3rd November 2023

  The Italian Navy has been notable for its significant lack of investment in uncrewed systems and has no operational capabilities in this domain, but the recent three-year Defence Programmes document has initiated two new projects.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Maritime patrol

  P-8A POSEIDON [USA]

  Programme Background The P-8A Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) system is a heavily modified and militarized derivative of Boeing's 737-800 ERX commercial aircraft. The P-8A is ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | 40PB Flight II [USN]

  The US Navy has selected Metal Shark's Defiant 40 patrol boat design as a replacement for the fleet of force protection boats currently in use ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | 40PB Flight II [USN]

  The US Navy has selected Metal Shark's Defiant 40 patrol boat design as a replacement for the fleet of force protection boats currently in use ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | T-AOT (CONSOL tanker) [USN]

  The US Navy is procuring five tankers to support the transportation and distribution of bulk petroleum products in support of U.S. Navy and joint force operations. They ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | T-AOT (CONSOL tanker) [USN]

  The US Navy is procuring five tankers to support the transportation and distribution of bulk petroleum products in support of U.S. Navy and joint force operations. They ...

• Fighter - naval

  F-35B (FY2026-2031) [USA]

  Background According to U.S. budget documents throughout the decade, the U.S. Navy intends to acquire 324 F-35B STOVL aircraft. Prior to 2020, the U.S. Navy ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  MH-60R Seahawk [India]

  Background 2020 MoU On 25 February 2020, a letter of acceptance for 24 MH-60Rs, worth approximately $2.12 billion, was signed by India and the US in ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-53K [USA]

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

• Maritime patrol

  P-8A Poseidon [UK]

  Background In July 2016, the UK government announced that it had ordered nine aircraft for service with the RAF. Under this frame, in January 2019, ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Constellation Class - FFG(X) (11-20)

  The US Navy ran the Next Generational Future Guided Missile Frigate (FFG X) programme to build a replacement for the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates, the ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Constellation Class - FFG(X) (11-20)

  The US Navy ran the Next Generational Future Guided Missile Frigate (FFG X) programme to build a replacement for the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates, the ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  T-AOT (CONSOL tanker) [USN]

  Background The US Navy is procuring ten tankers to support the transportation and distribution of bulk petroleum products in support of U.S. Navy and joint ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | F-35B STOVL Future Procurement - US Navy

  The US Navy is planning to order 115 F-35B STOVLs between FY2026 and FY2031 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated ...

• Data links

  Data links | F-35B STOVL Future Procurement - US Navy

  The US Navy is planning to order 115 F-35B STOVLs between FY2026 and FY2031 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | F-35B STOVL Future Procurement - US Navy

  The US Navy is planning to order 115 F-35B STOVLs between FY2026 and FY2031 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Maritime patrol

  US-2

  The ShinMaywa US-2 is an amphibious short take-off and landing aircraft used primarily by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) for SAR. 

• Military - USVs

  Voyager

  Voyager is an Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) built by US-based Saildrone. Voyager has been used by the US Navy (USN) and is one of three ...

• Military - UUVs

  Orca

  Orca is an extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicle (XLUUV) developed by Boeing for the US Navy (USN).

• Destroyers

  Kee Lung (Kidd) Class

  The Kee Lung-class consists of four ex-US Kidd-class guided missile destroyers in service with the Republic of China Navy (ROCN). The ships were originally built for ...

• Military - UUVs

  Mission Specialist Defender

  The Mission Specialist Defender is a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) developed by VideoRay, now part of BlueHalo's unmanned maritime systems. The ROV is known ...

• Military - USVs

  Explorer

  Saildrone's Explorer is the smallest of three USVs designed and built by the US-based USV manufacturer Saildrone. The system is used by the US Navy (USN) ...

• Data links

  GNOMAD US Domestic

  The US domestic version of GNOMAD (see separate entry) is a ruggedised system comprising a satellite antenna and baseband modular chassis that can be installed ...

• EO/IR systems, Sea: ship surveillance and fire control systems

  SeaFLIR 380-HD

  The SeaFLIR 380-HD is a long-range, multispectral surveillance system for surface vessels. Manufactured by Teledyne FLIR, the system combines HD IR, colour or SWIR spectral information. According to ...

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  MK266 High Explosive Incendiary with Tracer

  The MK266 High Explosive Incendiary with Tracer is a 30mm medium calibre round manufactured by Northrop Grumman. It is currently in use with the US Navy.

• Military - UUVs

  Snakehead LDUUV

  The Snakehead Large Displacement Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (LDUUV) is a US Navy (USN) Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (UUV) designed to be launched from submarine Dry Dock Shelters ...

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  XM1198 High Explosive Dual Purpose with Self Destruct (HEDP-SD)

  The XM1198 High Explosive Dual Purpose with Self Destruct (HEDP-SD) is a 30mm medium calibre round manufactured by Northrop Grumman. The US Navy uses the XM1198.

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  XM950 Target Practice Round

  The XM950 Target Practice Round is a 30mm medium calibre training round manufactured by Northrop Grumman. The US Navy uses the XM950 for training with its ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Integrated Combat System

  The Integrated Combat System (ICS) is a combat management system being developed for the US Navy. The project, currently led by Lockheed Martin, aims to ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Navy Multiband Terminal (NMT)

  The Navy Multiband Terminal is the next-generation maritime military SATCOM for the US Navy and allied nations. The terminal integrates EHF and AEHF systems with ...

• Air: EO/IR – Jamming Systems

  AN/AAQ-45

  Leonardo’s AN/AAQ-45 Distributed Aperture Infrared Countermeasures is designed to equip rotorcraft. The system is being installed on Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawk medium-lift utility helicopters used ...