• Naval Warfare

  Partnerships will be critical for future projects at Latin American shipyards

  21st May 2026

  Multiple Latin American navies are modernising their fleets by prioritising domestically manufactured surface vessels and even submarines via international partnerships.

• Defence Notes

  US speeds up B61-13 nuclear bomb production as programme moves further ahead of schedule

  29th July 2026

  The US government plans to accelerate production even further after achieving key B61-13 milestones months ahead of schedule, as the programme advances amid growing US-China strategic competition.

• Naval Warfare

  Ireland releases maritime strategy as it looks to new naval bases and stronger partnerships

  27th February 2026

  Ireland has a maritime area ten times the size of its land mass but has a limited naval capacity and faces an ongoing threat to critical underwater infrastructure. A new strategy is looking to address the challenge.

• Naval Warfare

  Eurosatory 2026: Red Cat eyes South American market for USV-led EEZ surveillance

  18th June 2026

  Success with the US Army’s Black Widow programme may have strengthened Red Cat’s international position, but executives believe the next growth opportunity lies in uncrewed surface vessels.

• Naval Warfare

  Shoreline vulnerability drives Gulf interest in USV networks

  22nd May 2026

  Ukraine’s combat-proven Magura uncrewed surface vessel is attracting Gulf state interest as the Iran war exposes gaps in layered maritime air defence, raising questions about whether low-cost attritable systems can gain a foothold in a procurement culture historically drawn to high-end Western platforms.

• Air Warfare

  Leonardo UK “optimistic” on further Proteus funding, confirms international interest

  24th February 2026

  The Proteus demonstrator is being pitched as a key platform showcasing the UK’s capabilities to build autonomous systems, with Leonardo in ongoing discussions about the future of the programme with the Royal Navy and UK Ministry of Defence.

• Air Warfare

  FIA 2026: KAI to offer T-50 jet trainer to UK Royal Air Force

  27th July 2026

  Another contender for the Royal Air Force's future Hawk trainer replacement programme has emerged, with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) putting forward its T-50 as a proven solution that could be manufactured in the UK.

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy bets on radio frequency to increase vessel protection against aerial threats

  10th April 2026

  A Northrop Grumman RF-based defensive capability will equip USN destroyers and aircraft carriers to enhance their survivability against missile and drone attacks.

• Defence Notes

  Intelligence innovation: From data overload to decision advantage (Podcast)

  6th May 2026

  As militaries face an overwhelming flow of data, the challenge is shifting from collection to delivering fast, actionable insights that drive decision-making. Advances in AI and data integration are helping armed forces move beyond siloed systems to generate real-time intelligence across domains and allies.

• Air Warfare

  UK MoD awards Leonardo with £1 billion New Medium Helicopter contract

  2nd March 2026

  The £1 billion contract has secured jobs at Leonardo’s Yeovil site and will provide the British forces with 23 new medium-lift helicopters.

• Naval Warfare

  Naval primes dive into an underwater acquisition gold rush

  20th July 2026

  A cluster of acquisitions by Fincantieri, Thales, Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall points to a race to secure underwater warfare, autonomy and sensing capability.

• Air Warfare

  Eastern European helicopter modernisation could open doors for Western manufacturers

  19th March 2026

  With some Eastern European countries already upgrading their helicopter fleets to incorporate Western technology, the region presents potential future opportunities for defence companies.

• Naval Warfare

  Ukraine war drives ‘minimum deployable capability’ doctrine in uncrewed systems development

  9th June 2026

  Ukraine’s battlefield has rewritten the rules of uncrewed systems development. For Syos Aerospace, real-time operator feedback, lean serial production and a system-of-systems philosophy are central to its operating model.

• Naval Warfare

  Japan’s first warship sale opens door to future exports but comes with strings attached

  24th April 2026

  Australia’s selection of an upgraded Mogami-class frigate marks Japan’s first-ever export of a major surface combatant. With an ambitious 2029 delivery target, the deal could open the door to further naval exports – but inexperience and geopolitical friction with China loom large.

• Air Warfare

  L3Harris begins work on South Korean AEW&C aircraft, eyes further international opportunities

  18th February 2026

  The company remains upbeat about its Indo-Pacific and European prospects, with its AERIS X system onboard a Bombardier 6500 proving an attractive option for air forces’ growing AEW&C needs.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

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

  WanderB or ThunderB [Colombia]

  Programme Background Expodefensa 2019 During Colombia's Expodefensa 2019 exhibition, BlueBird Aero Systems displayed its ThunderB VTOL small UAV. Reportedly, the Colombian Army requested information on ...

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

  S45 Baalam [Mexico]

  Background In service In 2021, it was reported that the S45 Baalam was in service with the Mexican Air Force, having achieved 4,000 flight hours ...

• Patrol boats

  Mk VI Patrol Boat - Ukraine (7-8) Optional

  Programme Background The Mk VI is described as the USN's next-generation patrol boat and is currently in service with the US Navy's Coastal Riverine Forces (CRF). The ...

• Patrol boats

  Mk VI Patrol Boat - Ukraine (9-16)

  Programme Background The Mk VI is described as the USN's next-generation patrol boat and is currently in service with the US Navy's Coastal Riverine Forces (CRF). The ...

• Patrol boats

  Mk VI Patrol Boat - Ukraine (1-6)

  Programme Background The Mk VI is described as the USN's next-generation patrol boat and is currently in service with the US Navy's Coastal Riverine Forces (CRF). The ...

• Loitering munitions

  Altius 600M & Altius 700M (Ukraine Aid) [UK]

  Programme Background Anduril On 6 March 2025, the UK MoD and John Healey, the Secretary of State for Defence, announced a package to help counter Russia's aggression against ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  RQ-170 Sentinel [US]

  Background Secrecy The RQ-170 Sentinel was first unveiled in 2007, when a defence journalist photographed the aircraft at Kandahar International Airport. In 2009, officials disclosed that ...

• OPVs

  Teresa Magbanua Class [Philippines]

  Programme Background The Philippine Department of Transportation (DOTr) signed a contract for two 94m multi-role response vessels (MRRVs) in February 2020 to be built by ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | EA-37B [Italy]

  On 21 July 2025, Italy awarded L3Harris, in partnership with BAE Systems, a $300 million contract for two EA-37B Electronic Attack aircraft. BAE Systems is set ...

• Data links

  Data links | EA-37B [Italy]

  On 21 July 2025, Italy awarded L3Harris, in partnership with BAE Systems, a $300 million contract for two EA-37B Electronic Attack aircraft. BAE Systems is set ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | EA-37B [Italy]

  On 21 July 2025, Italy awarded L3Harris, in partnership with BAE Systems, a $300 million contract for two EA-37B Electronic Attack aircraft. BAE Systems is set ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | EA-37B [Italy]

  On 21 July 2025, Italy awarded L3Harris, in partnership with BAE Systems, a $300 million contract for two EA-37B Electronic Attack aircraft. BAE Systems is set ...

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

  Charrua [Uruguay]

  Methodology Unit cost Based on the UAV’s MTOW and the Defence Insight database, Shephard estimates the aircraft’s gross and flyaway unit costs are $650,000 and $540,000, respectively. Quantity required ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Wing Loong I [Eygpt]

  Programme Background SIPRI According to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), in 2016, Eygpt ordered around 10 Wing Loong I aircraft from China, which were ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | NRE+ (Navio Reabastecedor de Esquadra e Logístico) [Portugal]

  Portugal urges to replace NRP Bérrio, a fleet support tanker which was decommissioned in 2020. In December 2023, during an interview with Portuguese media, the Chief ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military - USVs

  C-Worker 15

  C-Worker 15 is a large uncrewed surface vessel (USV) built by L-3 Harris designed specifically for towing payloads and deploying Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs).

• Data links

  GNOMAD International

  Global Network On the Move – Active Distribution (GNOMAD) is an exportable SATCOM on-the-move system supplying a mobile network for military and government vehicles. The ...

• Fighter - ground attack

  AMX International

  The AMX International is a ground attack aircraft manufactured by AMX International, a consortium of Italy's Leonardo (Alenia and Aermacchi) and Brazil's Embraer, the latter ...

• Military - USVs

  DriX O-16

  The DriX O-16 is a transoceanic range uncrewed surface vessel (USV) developed by the French technology company Exail. It is designed for hydrographic, geophysical and ...

• Cannons

  40 CTAS

  CTA International has developed the 40 mm Cased Telescoped Armament System (40 CTAS) for integration into armoured vehicles for either new build or systems upgrades. ...

• EO/IR systems

  UltraFORCE 380-HDc

  The UltraFORCE 380-HDc is an EO/IR system from Teledyne FLIR. Unveiled at Farnborough International Airshow in 2024, it is an International Traffic in Arms Regulations-free (ITAR-free) version ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  Helicopter Underwater Escape Training Simulator (HUET)

  The Helicopter Underwater Escape Trainer (HUET) facility is designed and built by Meteksan Defence based on international standards and OPITO criteria (an international organization defining qualification ...

• Trucks and utility vehicles - 4x4, Trucks and utility vehicles - 6x6

  7000-MV MTV

  The Navistar 7000 series is a range of military heavy-lift vehicles developed by Navistar Defense, based on the Navistar International WorkStar truck chassis. This series ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  Training Support and Services

  Diehl provides professional services to international customers with regard to ACMI systems, including analysis and presentation of mission data. Air force specialists support forces with ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Brontanax

  In July 2022, BAE Systems revealed two UAV concepts, one of which was later named the Concept 2 at DSEI 2023. Three years later, at ...

• Pistols

  STX

  In 2014, Detonics introduced the 9mm STX and in June 2015 announced that it had signed an agreement with STI International to produce the pistol. 

• Sonobuoys

  AN/SSQ-53G DIFAR

  The AN/SSQ-53G DIFAR is made by Ultra Maritime in the USA, it is marketed at international users of the MH-60 and P-8A.

• EO/IR systems

  UXG-300

  The UXG-300 is a two-axis high-speed gyro-stabilised gimbal manufactured by UAVision and designed by BCB International. It features continuous 360-degree pan rotation and -105° to ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  HMAV

  Mildef International Technologies publicly unveiled the prototype High Mobility Armoured Vehicle (HMAV) 4x4 at an event in Sepang in February 2021.  Designed to meet UN ...

• Sonobuoys

  AN/SSQ-53G(GPS) DIFAR Sonobuoy

  The AN/SSQ-53G(GPS) DIFAR Sonobuoy produced by Ultra Maritime is an A-sized passive sonobuoy that is marketed at international customers who require a GPS transmitter.