• Defence Notes

  Podcast: Revolutions in Vertical Flight S1 E6 - the Future of VTOL Innovation

  20th December 2019

  Welcome to Shephard Studio’s podcast series on Revolutions in Vertical Flight, sponsored by our partner Bell. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and more. The Revolutions in Vertical Flight …

• Defence Helicopter

  V-22 fleet logs 500,000 flight hours

  9th October 2019

  The Bell-Boeing V-22 tiltrotor programme has reached a new milestone, with the fleet logging a combined 500,000 flight hours. More than 375 Ospreys are flying …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUSA 2019: QinetiQ joins with Pratt & Miller to present new RCV offering

  25th October 2019

  QinetiQ North America and engineering company Pratt & Miller have partnered to offer the latter company’s Expeditionary Modular Autonomous Vehicle (EMAV) to meet the US …

• Defence Helicopter

  Thailand requests AH-6i helicopters

  25th September 2019

  The government of Thailand wants eight AH-6i helicopters from the US government under a foreign military sale. The US State Department has made a determination …

• Defence Helicopter

  British Army keen to push new Apaches into MUM-T role

  28th October 2019

  The British Army wants to prioritise manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) for its incoming fleet of AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters, but first intends on making sure …

• Defence Helicopter

  AUSA 2019: Raider X takes to the stage

  16th October 2019

  Sikorsky has officially confirmed that it is offering an enlarged variant of the in-development co-axial S-97 Raider for the US Army’s Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  GA-ASI updates MQ-9A Reaper progress with USMC

  17th September 2019

  The General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) MQ-9A Reaper UAS has flown over 4,800 flight hours of direct support reconnaissance for the US Marine Corps’ (USMC’s) …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Rostec company develops C-UAS radar

  16th October 2019

  Rostec company Ruselectronics has developed a hand-held UAS detection radar, Rostec announced on 10 October. The multi-channel Ka-band radar is 325x240x230mm in size and can …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUSA 2019: Textron and BAE Systems go head to head with Robotic Combat Vehicle concepts

  14th October 2019

  Robots are the name of the game at AUSA 2019 with two brand new designs being showcased for the US Army’s Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) …

• Naval Warfare

  Russia looking at hovercraft in latest step of Coast Guard Service renewal

  14th October 2019

  The Russian Coast Guard Service is exploring the possibility for the purchase of up to 15 hovercraft that would be used to increase security patrols …

• Naval Warfare

  Tri-national amphibious landing exercise complete

  17th October 2019

  A multi-national amphibious landing exercise has been carried out by the armed forces of the US, Philippines and Japan at Katungkulan Beach, Marine Barracks Gregorio …

• Military Logistics

  C-130J global fleet hits mammoth flight hour milestone

  16th October 2019

  The global C-130J Super Hercules fleet has achieved a combined two million flight hours, Lockheed Martin announced on 15 October. The hours have been logged …

• Digital Battlespace

  ADEX 2019: Raytheon-led team offers ISTAR aircraft to ROKAF

  15th October 2019

  The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) has a requirement for up to four intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) aircraft, and one contender …

• Digital Battlespace

  AOC 2019: New tools for US Army’s electromagnetic overhaul

  25th October 2019

  It is one year since the US Army performed its first electronic attack on European soil since the end of the Cold War, with the …

• Defence Helicopter

  China’s Z-20 gets its first public airings

  23rd October 2019

  The Z-20 helicopter manufactured by the Harbin Aircraft Industry Group – but clearly copied from the Sikorsky S-70 Black Hawk – has enjoyed a flurry …

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 ...

• 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 ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Griffon Light Common Armoured Vehicle Platform [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 ...

• 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 ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-1Z

  In issuing the Force Design 2030 report into the future direction of the USMC, the corps is attempting to steer the course of its development, ...

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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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'. ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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, ...

• 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 ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-1W SuperCobra

  Bell’s AH-1W SuperCobra attack helicopter was developed from the AH-1T for the USMC. It has been in service since 1986 to the present day, first ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Common Tactical Wheeled Vehicle

  The Common Tactical Wheeled Vehicle (CTWV) is a family of 8x8 armoured vehicles designed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for the Japanese Ground Self-Defence Forces.  Three ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Commando Elite

  The 4x4 Commando Elite is an improved derivative of Textron's M1117 Armored Security Vehicle which offers improved mobility, lethality and survivability. The Canadian Army chose ...