• Digital Battlespace

  Thales takes new HF communications system from ship to shore

  1st July 2024

  The HF XL family was unveiled at last month’s Eurosatory 2024 with the company pushing the system’s capability of searching out unjammed channels or channels with the highest data rate available.

• Naval Warfare

  Tomahawk missiles and optronics axed from Royal Australian Navy Collins submarine upgrade

  5th June 2024

  Australia’s Collins-class consists of six submarines commissioned between 1996 and 2003 based on the Type 471 design from Swedish shipbuilder Kockums. New nuclear-powered submarines will replace the Collins-class in the 2030s.

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy to invest more than $32 billion in shipbuilding in FY2025

  18th March 2024

  The service’s budget proposal for the next fiscal year included the procurement of six battle force ships.

• Training

  Canada’s Calian moves into UK training field with purchase of Mabway

  15th May 2024

  Mabway, a supplier to the British Army since 2012, has a workforce of more than 1,000 ex-military and civilian permanent staff and contractors covering the UK, Europe and the Middle East.

• Air Warfare

  Boeing wins US$178 million US Air Force contract to deliver further MH-139A helicopters

  30th April 2024

  Boeing said it was on track to deliver the first Low-Rate Initial Production MH-139A helicopter to the US Air Force in mid-2024.

• Land Warfare

  Need to operate with NATO?

  18th June 2024

  As the organisation deploys SitaWare Headquarters, how can you improve interoperability and multidomain situational awareness?

• Land Warfare

  Rheinmetall to manufacture ammunition in Lithuania

  4th June 2024

  Rheinmetall has contracts or framework agreements worth billions to make munitions and has been building a new ammunition factory in Lower Saxony in Germany. It has also begun the production of artillery shells in Queensland, Australia and has establishing a vehicle joint venture in Ukraine. The new Lithuanian factory has marked another expansion for the company.

• Defence Notes

  Sweden commits US$684.7 million in equipment and funds to Ukraine

  20th February 2024

  Sweden has announced another package of support for Ukraine, following hot on the heels of Canada’s additional support announced this week and last week’s support from the UK and the EU.

• Naval Warfare

  Are ‘kamikaze’ USVs a game changer in naval warfare?

  20th March 2024

  The use of uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs) by Ukraine in strike operations against the Russian Navy in the Black Sea has been extremely successful. But it is likely that the long-term impact could be limited.

• Training

  US to provide training for Saudi navy

  1st May 2024

  The US State Department announced on 30 April that it had approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Saudi Arabia of a navy training programme.

• Naval Warfare

  Steel to be cut for first Polar Security Cutter this year, claims US Coast Guard commandant

  2nd May 2024

  The delivery of the first PSC was initially scheduled for 2024, but the design phase of the programme was delayed multiple times.

• Air Warfare

  Belgian F-35A completes first flight

  17th May 2024

  The Belgian Air Force’s first F-35A Lightning II has taken flight, showcasing the national flag, with the first force’s first four F-35As set to head to Luke AFB for initial training amid software upgrade delays.

• Air Warfare

  US ponders weapons sales to Israel as UK faces calls to halt exports

  4th April 2024

  Amid calls for restraint in arms sales, the US has been reviewing an $18 billion deal with Israel, including F-15 fighters and air-to-air missiles. The UK has also been facing pressure to cease exports over potential violations of international law in the Gaza conflict.

• Digital Battlespace

  Raytheon missile warning data processing system declared operational

  7th May 2024

  Raytheon’s Future Operationally Resilient Ground Evolution Mission Data Processing Application Framework (FORGE MDPAF) is designed as a modular and adaptable framework to provide integration of mission focused applications to handle information from satellites.

• 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.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Main battle tanks

  Decisive Lethality Platform [USA]

  Background The DLP is one of five vehicle families being developed for the US Army's NGCV programme. Expanded to include five programmes in October 2018, ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Nightwarden (Qatar)

  Programme Background The Qatar MoD has established the Surveillance and Reconnaissance Center to carry out ISR missions for the Qatar Armed Forces. Among its roles ...

• Military UAS - micro

  eBee Vision [US]

  Background Multiple orders In November 2025, the US Army acquired three eBee Vision systems to enhance training operations at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Germany. A ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) (Increment 1) [USA]

  Programme Background Programme Objective The Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) was to provide a tactical ISTAR capability for US Army Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs). It was ...

• Medium UGVs

  Medium Modular Equipment Transport Trailer (M-METT) [USA]

  Background Whilst there are many medium UGV programmes developing concepts for last-mile resupply problems, the US Army's M-METT programme aims to provide an uncrewed logistics ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  XM30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle [USA]

  Background Requirement The OMFV programme is the latest of several attempts to develop a Bradley replacement.  Designed to be capable of operating with or without a ...

• Military UAS - small

  Aerosonde (Qatar)

  Programme Background The Qatar MoD has established the Surveillance and Reconnaissance Center to carry out ISR missions for the Qatar Armed Forces. Among its roles ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Boxer (JSFT) [Germany]

  Programme Background The German Army has a requirement for a heavy armoured vehicle platform to supplement the lighter Fennek in service with its JFSTs. Unlike ...

• Main battle tanks

  Botswana K2 MBT

  Programme Background The only indication that the Botswana Ground Force was considering the acquisition of the K2 MBT came from a report in Botswana's The ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  AMPV [USA]

  Background Platform development The US Army initiated the AMPV programme to acquire a replacement for several variants of the M113 tracked APC, which has been ...

• Military UAS - micro

  NX70 Microdrone (Second Batch)

  Programme Background The French Army procured the NX70 to meet an urgent operational requirement for a small UAS that could provide short-range ISR for dismounted ...

• Military UAS - mini

  SpyLite [India]

  Background Rising tensions Following a rise in tensions with China along the disputed Line of Actual Control (LAC) in 2018, Indian forces in the area recognised ...

• Military UAS - mini

  RQ-11 Raven (US Army)

  Programme Background The AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven began to be deployed by the US Army in 2004 and was selected as its sole small UAS in ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Pandur Evo (Second Batch) [Austria]

  Programme Background The Austrian Army requires armoured vehicles with a high degree of mobility and blast protection to support its forces deployed on domestic and ...

• Military UAS - micro

  NX70 Microdrone (Third Batch)

  Programme Background The French Army procured the NX70 to meet an urgent operational requirement for a small UAS that could provide short-range ISR for dismounted ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Multipurpose missiles, Loitering munitions

  Barracuda (Family)

  Barracuda is a family of air-breathing Autonomous Air Vehicles (AAV), purpose-built for hyper-scale production and mass employment. The Barracuda-M is the munition configuration of Barracuda. Different family members ...

• Light UGVs

  Centaur

  The Centaur is a military UGV developed specifically for the US Army's Man Transportable Robotic System Increment II (MTRS Inc II), a requirement for a ...

• Heavy UGVs

  AMAS

  The Autonomous Mobility Appliqué System (AMAS) is a multi-platform kit designed to integrate low-cost sensors and control systems onto US Army and USMC tactical vehicles ...

• Assault rifles/carbines/shotguns

  6.5mm CT Carbine

  The 6.5mm Cased Telescoped (CT) Carbine is a closed-bolt, forward-feed, gas piston-operated weapon being developed as part of the US Army's Lightweight Small Arms Technology ...

• Land: tactical engagement simulators

  Instrumented Ground Combat Training Systems

  Cubic supplies combat training systems for CTCs, homestations and forward-deployed environments. The systems are designed to support missions including force-on-force, urban operations, joint, combined arms ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  RG33

  BAE Systems RG33 is a family of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles available in both 4x4 and 6x6. The medium-weight class of BAE Systems MRAP ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  F-35 Training System

  BAE Systems is involved in F-35 Lightning II Training System design and sustainment, working with prime contractor Lockheed Martin. BAE Systems leads the instructional systems ...

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Archer

  The Archer family are an FPV-style loitering munitions and UAVs from Neros. Certified by BlueUAS, the drone is designed and manufactured in Los Angeles, California. The Archer ...

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

  Initial Maneuver - SHORAD

  Unveiled at AUSA 2019, Initial Maneuver Short Range Air Defense (IM-SHORAD) is a multipurpose platform, based on the Stryker IFV, which moves and maneuvers in ...

• Trailers

  M900 Series

  Heil’s M900-series tactical refuellers are designed and built to meet US military performance standards. The M967A2 ground equipment refueller and the M969A3 aircraft refueller are ...

• Data links

  BUG-E

  The USAF Electronic Systems Center developed Battlefield Universal Gateway Equipment (BUG-E) to connect dissimilar communications networks to enable them to share data. For example, it ...

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  Next Generation Combat Vehicle Ammunition

  The Next Generation Combat Vehicle Ammunition (NGVA) is a family of ammunition being developed by the US Army's Armaments Center and manufactured by General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  Raven B / RQ-11

  The Raven B, known as the RQ-11 in US nomenclature, is a UAV that provides low-altitude ISR capability for commercial and military applications. The system offers ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV)

  BAE Systems' Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) was developed in response to a US Army requirement for a platform to replace the ageing M113 APCs in ...

• Subsystems: software

  Virtual Combat OutPost Tool

  The Virtual Combat OutPost (VCOP) Tool was developed by SDS for the US Army Natick Soldier Research Development and Engineering Center to allow users to ...