• Naval Warfare

  As Indonesia doubles up its order, who else is looking at the Arrowhead 140 frigate design?

  28th January 2026

  The adaptable design of Babcock’s Arrowhead 140 frigate, already selected by the UK Royal Navy and Poland, has led to more orders from Indonesia while other countries continue to weigh it up.

• Naval Warfare

  The FDI frigate: a growing success story with more opportunities to come

  15th June 2026

  Designed as a multi-role frigate with both anti-submarine and air defence capabilities, Naval Group’s medium-sized FDI frigate increasingly stands out as a success story in an industry wrought with delays.

• Naval Warfare

  Future frigate programme highlights broader RNZN replacement challenge

  28th August 2026

  New Zealand’s evaluation of the Mogami and Arrowhead 140 frigate designs reflects a wider push for alliance interoperability, and points to a larger recapitalisation of the Royal New Zealand Navy fleet beyond the current programme.

• Land Warfare

  British Army’s Project Stokes 120mm mortar bids due in March 2026

  18th February 2026

  Project Stokes could see a new 120mm mortar capability enter British service, with domestic production and international partnerships central to competing bids.

• Naval Warfare

  UK DIP: Royal Navy bets on defence technology over bigger fleets

  7th July 2026

  The Royal Navy’s transition towards a hybrid fleet could prove to be less about building more hulls and more about delivering the autonomous technologies, AI and digital integration that will support future maritime operations.

• Land Warfare

  British Army's open plan draws diverse offerings for Land Rover replacement

  18th September 2026

  The UK Ministry of Defence has avoided being prescriptive in its search to replace the British Army’s Land Rover, meaning vehicle types being offered range from Land Rover Defender Wolf II and Humvee to the hybrid series Fering Pioneer. What does this mean for the procurement process?

• Land Warfare

  British Army faces AFV capability gaps despite Boxer and Ajax deliveries

  27th August 2026

  The British Army continues to face gaps in its armoured fighting vehicle fleet, with replacement plans for Warrior and FV432 still unresolved despite ongoing deliveries of Boxer and Ajax.

• Naval Warfare

  What HII’s UK expansion could mean for Royal Navy’s uncrewed future

  14th January 2026

  As HII prepares to deliver its latest AI-enabled uncrewed surface vessel later this year, its major UK facility expansion aligns with the UK Royal Navy’s plans for a hybrid fleet.

• Naval Warfare

  Dreadnought Phase 4 opens £2.5 billion supply chain opportunity

  4th August 2026

  The UK government’s £8.4 billion Dreadnought Phase 4 investment sets aside £2.5 billion for the wider submarine supply chain, opening new work beyond BAE Systems’ prime contract.

• Naval Warfare

  UK to join US Navy’s Virginia-class submarine assembly effort to speed up construction

  10th December 2025

  The expansion of the Virginia-class submarine construction to UK shores could accelerate the project as US shipbuilders continue to fall short of delivery goals.

• Land Warfare

  Localisation is the aim of the game in defence procurement

  3rd March 2026

  Defence buyers globally are increasingly looking to tie domestic manufacturing and technology transfer into deals.

• Naval Warfare

  Production-ready beats prototype-ready in the US Navy’s MUSV marketplace

  15th October 2026

  HII, Saronic and Galliano Marine Services have won US Navy production contracts to supply medium uncrewed surface vessels. The marketplace approach behind them sets the bar for suppliers eyeing allied navy competitions.

• Land Warfare

  Land Rover retirement schedule puts pressure on British Army vehicle plans

  23rd March 2026

  The British Army’s plans to replace thousands of vehicles have been troubled with resets, delays and change. It is possible, however, that genuine progress is being achieved on two of the three segments in the programme.

• Land Warfare

  February land forces roundup: ST Engineering and Russia lift the lid on new platforms

  27th February 2026

  This month we saw a major presence from Turkish, Russian and Chinese companies at the World Defense Show with new vehicles from major suppliers, while elsewhere there were evolving mortar programmes and artillery modernisation efforts.

• Land Warfare

  Supacat awaits new MoD contracts for British Army Land Mobility Programme

  24th April 2026

  A joint Supacat-KNDS Germany capability day showcased the platforms on offer for the British Army's upcoming vehicle programmes and highlighted UK-focused industrial commitments.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  UK supplied Fast Inshore Attack Craft (FIAC) [Ukraine]

  Background It was first reported in late September 2020 that the UK could provide eight Barzan-class fast attack craft to Ukraine. The platform has been in ...

• Trainer

  PC-7 MKX [France]

  Development Babcock is set to supply the French Air and Space Force with 22 PC-7 MKX aircraft and 12 training stimulators for a total programme ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  SW4 Puszczyk Replacement [Poland]

  Background  Requirement In 2002, Poland order 47 SW4 training helicopters from Italian manufacturer Leonardo; as of Spring 2025, the Ministry of Defence is looking to ...

• Frigates

  Inspiration Class (Type 31) (1-5) [UK]

  Background The Inspiration-class (Type 31) frigate programme for the UK Royal Navy (RN) emerged during the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) 2015 when the MoD ...

• Self-propelled mortars

  Project Stokes [UK]

  Background The British Army does not currently operate any self-propelled mortars. The war in Ukraine has demonstrated that static fire support platforms are increasingly vulnerable ...

• Patrol boats

  Second-hand patrol boats (Ireland)

  Background The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) announced on 14 March that it was selling two decommissioned 340t Inshore Patrol Vessels (IPVs) to Ireland. As part ...

• Frigates

  Arrowhead 140 Frigate Acquisition (3-4) [Indonesia]

  Programme Background Timeline The design options initially shortlisted for the first two frigates were an improved variant of the SIGMA 10514 design from Damen, the 30FFM ...

• Frigates

  Common Combat Vessels [UK]

  Background Requirements Despite replacing the Type 45, the CCV will be smaller than a destroyer, which the UK hopes will allow it to save money ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  Project Land 2097 Phase 4 [Australia]

  Programme Background According to the RfI, under Project Land 2097 Phase 4, the selected helicopter must comprise a commercial or military off-the-shelf solution that is ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  Future Aircrew Training Program [Canada]

  Background The FAcT requires to graduate 120 pilots, 40 combat systems officers and 36 airborne electronic sensor operators per year with 15% fluctuation. Training services are ...

• Frigates

  Arrowhead 140 Frigate Acquisition (1-2) [Indonesia]

  Programme Background Requirements Indonesia’s policy of Minimum Essential Force (MEF) seeks to create an armed force capable of defending the nation. The navy has thus ...

• Aircraft carriers

  Queen Elizabeth Class

  The contract to begin the construction of the first ship was awarded in 2008, ten years after the programme was announced in the 1998 SDR. ...

• Frigates

  Luleå Class (1-4) [Sweden]

  Background Requirements The Swedish Navy currently operates a total of five Visby-class corvettes and two older Gävle-class corvettes, which first entered service in the late 1980s. According ...

• Submarines: conventional/attack

  Project ORKA [Poland]

  Background Requirements The Orka-class submarine programme for the Polish Navy is intended to provide three new replacements for the remaining Kobben-class and Kilo-class SSKs. Poland ...

• Frigates

  Air Defence Frigates Procurement [Denmark]

  Background Requirements After focusing on the procurement of new highly capable patrol ships and new Arctic frigates as a replacement for the Thetis-class, Shephard had initially estimated ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Frigates

  Arrowhead 120

  The Arrowhead 120 (AH120) is a frigate design from Babcock, which was initially developed for the requirements of the Royal Navy and its Type 31 frigate ...

• Frigates

  Inspiration Class (Type 31)

  The Inspiration-class (Type 31) is a general-purpose frigate being procured by the UK RN to replace its Type 23 Duke-class frigates. The new frigates will ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  General Logistics Vehicle

  The General Logistics Vehicle (GLV) is a light utility vehicle manufactured by Babcock International. Unveiled at DSEI 2023, it is a militarised version of the Toyota Land Cruiser ...

• Trainer

  TB 30 Epsilon

  The Socata TB 30 Epsilon is a light truboprop trainer aircraft. The first aircraft flew in 1979 and entered service in 1983. It is in ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  UK MFTS

  The Military Flying Training System (MFTS) programme, is a private finance initiative involving the MoD and Ascent, a JV of Lockheed Martin and Babcock, which was ...

• Major networking projects

  Project Marshall

  The Joint Military Air Traffic Services project was initiated by the UK MoD in November 2005 to identify and evaluate options for the future delivery ...

• Trainer

  PC-21

  Pilatus began the development of the PC-21 single-turboprop low-wing swept monoplane advanced trainer in 1999. The PC-21 can also be operated in the light attack ...

• Trainer

  Phenom 100

  Phenom 100 is a very light jet originally developed for single owner-pilot operation but later gained popularity as a jet trainer aircraft. The platform first ...

• Frigates

  Miecznik frigates (Arrowhead 140)

  The Miecznik frigates are based on the Babcock Arrowhead 140 design, already selected by the Royal Navy and the Indonesian Navy. Three ships have been ordered ...

• Air: transport/tanker simulators

  A330 Voyager MRTT Training Services

  Through AirTanker Services, a JV between Thales, Airbus Group, Cobham, Rolls-Royce and Babcock, Thales provides and maintains training services for the RAF’s Future Strategic Tanker ...

• Static/towed guns

  Centurion LPWS

  Raytheon developed the Centurion Land-based Phalanx Weapon System (LPWS) in 2004-05 to provide a C-RAM system to protect US bases in Iraq. The heart of ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  SK4110

  Rohde&Schwarz; SK4110 is a high-power HF transmitter that provides beyond-line-of-sight communications with a high data rate. Notably, it has a liquid cooling system and optional ...

• Frigates

  Red White Class (Arrowhead 140)

  The Red White-class frigates are based on Babcock's Arrowhead 140 design. Indonesia ordered two vessels in 2021, and the lead ship is currently being built ...

• Light UGVs

  SPUR

  The Squad Packable Utility Robot (SPUR) is QinitiQ's newest tactical land UGV. Designed to be backpackable, the drone can be deployed rapidly from its stowed state.  It ...

• Military - USVs

  Romulus

  The Romulus is an uncrewed surface vessel (USV) designed by Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII).  According to HII, the Romulus USV was designed as a force ...