• Digital Battlespace

  First Skynet 6 contract timeline confirmed

  6th November 2018

  Skynet 6A, the first contract for the emerging British SATCOM programme Skynet 6, is expected to be issued before the end of 2019, more than …

• Training

  Airbus operational as MFTS aircraft service provider

  5th October 2018

  Airbus Helicopters has completed its service provision build-up for the UK’s Military Flying Training System (MFTS), the company announced on 2 October. Airbus Helicopters is …

• Land Warfare

  Warrior upgrade delays threaten MoD's Budget Plan

  7th November 2018

  The UK Ministry of Defence has confirmed a delay to the Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme (WCSP) calling the setback a key risk to project affordability …

• Digital Battlespace

  Airbus confident AI will dominate the future of air power

  7th November 2018

  Artificial intelligence (AI) and greater interoperability of airborne and ground based systems will soon dictate the way in which future air combat programmes unfold. That’s …

• Digital Battlespace

  SEA awarded personal area network work

  6th November 2018

  Cohort company SEA will lead the physical and technical software integration of soldier personal area networks with the British Army’s current body armour and load …

• Defence Notes

  Nine countries meet to kickstart European force

  7th November 2018

  Defence ministers from nine European countries will meet in Paris on 7 November to set out plans for a joint force that could rapidly be …

• Defence Helicopter

  German parliament backs heavy-lift package

  9th November 2018

  The German parliament has formally approved its defence ministry's €5.6 billion ($6.36 billion) heavy-lift acquisition budget package - a decision that dispels earlier suggestions that the …

• Defence Notes

  British Army lifts restriction on Commonwealth recruits

  5th November 2018

  Citizens of Commonwealth countries will be able to join the British Armed Forces even if they do not live in Britain, the Government said on …

• Naval Warfare

  Euronaval 2018: 'Light' boom as Type 31e passes PQQ

  25th October 2018

  Numerous shipbuilders and designers showcased a range of light multirole frigates and corvettes at this year’s Euronaval in Paris as demand for such platforms increases. …

• Naval Warfare

  Babcock completes Mk8 Mod 1 firing trials

  30th October 2018

  Babcock International has detailed progress on its five year contract with the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to deliver an upgraded 4.5in Mk8 Mod 1 …

• Defence Helicopter

  UK requests H-47 Chinooks

  24th October 2018

  The US State Department has made a determination approving a potential foreign military sale of H-47 Chinook Extended Range helicopters to the UK, the Defense …

• Military Logistics

  OCCAR, NSPA extend A400M service agreement

  29th October 2018

  Europe's Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) and the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) have signed a new amendment to the A400M aircraft service …

• Training

  QinetiQ becomes majority investor in Inzpire

  26th October 2018

  QinetiQ Group has become a majority investor in Inzpire, with an 85% share ownership in the company that will rise to 100% after two years. …

• Digital Battlespace

  IAI wades into UK AWACS controversy

  24th October 2018

  The increasingly public battle to determine the UK’s replacement for its E-3 AWACS fleet has drawn a number of international companies into the argument, as …

• Special Operations

  Gender gap closed for UK special forces

  26th October 2018

  Women are now eligible to attempt the UK’s Joint Selection course which is designed to identify personnel suitable for service with the Special Air Service …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military helicopters - multirole

  H135 [UK]

  Programme Background Airbus Helicopters UK announced on 2 February 2022 that it has won an order to provide five additional H135 twin-engine helicopters for the ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing

  FPV & Attack Drones (Ukraine Aid) [UK & Norway]

  Background £450 million On 11 April 2025, the UK MoD announced a £450 million package for Ukraine, which included £350 million from the UK from this ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Global Combat Air Programme [UK]

  Programme Background The next-generation platform concept is part of the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review, which sought to deliver a Future Combat Air System ...

• Self-propelled guns, APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Mobile Fires Platform [UK]

  Background Post-Cold War requirements Following the end of the Cold War, the UK operated a single 155mm artillery system, the AS90. The UK procured a ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Fleet Solid Support (FSS) (1-3) [UK]

  Programme Background Requirement The 2015 Strategic Defence & Security Review (SDSR) highlighted the requirement for three Military Afloat Reach & Sustainability (MARS) Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ...

• Fighter - naval

  F-35B [UK]

  Programme Background The total cost of the currently funded programme as reported through the UK Major Projects Report is expected to be £10.5 billion ($13.5 ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Typhoon Tranche 3A - Qatar

  As a part of the agreement to sell Typhoon, the UK is establishing a ‘Joint Operations Squadron’ (to be known as 12 Squadron) with the ...

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Magni-X (UK)

  Programme Background On 12 January 2022, Elbit Systems UK announced it had been awarded a contract from the UK MoD's Defence Equipment & Support's Future Capability ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

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

  Programme 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 ...

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

  AR3 (Ukraine Aid) [UK]

  Background £270 Million investment On 15 September 2025, the UK MoD noted that, since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the UK ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Multi-Role Vehicle (Protected) (MRV-P) Package 1 (UK)

  Programme Background Requirement The MRV-P programme was intended to procure replacements for a diverse fleet of 4x4 and 6x6 vehicles purchased during the wars in Iraq ...

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  30,000 FPV Drones (Ukraine Aid) [UK]

  Programme Background IDCC On 9 January 2025, the UK MoD announced that 30,000 FPV drones would be sent to Ukraine after the awarding of £45 million ...

• 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, ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  CATV [UK]

  Background CATV The CATV programme was initiated in 2019, when the UK, Germany, Netherlands and Sweden signed an MoU to share acquisition costs for the ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A400M [UK]

  Background RAF base at Brize Norton built a new training facility for A400M pilots and crew. The aircraft will look to reach full operation capability by 2022 ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  CAE 700MR

  The CAE 700MR FTD is a full mission simulator platform for military helicopter-specific flight and mission training. It is a fixed-base system based on CAE's ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  UK MSHATF

  The Medium Support Helicopter Aircrew Training Facility (MSHATF) opened for training at RAF Benson, England in July 1999. It provides training services to personnel from ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  UK/ARC341 (ADRA)

  The Advanced Digital Radio Airborne (ADRA) provides a Bowman VHF radio capability to helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. It is fully compatible with the Bowman VHF ...

• Submarines: nuclear/attack

  SSN AUKUS

  The SSN-AUKUS will be the submarine design resulting from the AUKUS trilateral pact between Australia, the US and the UK. Expected to incorporate technology from ...

• 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 ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  ASTOR FBFCT

  The Fixed Base Flight Crew Trainer (FBFCT) is a Level 5+ FTD for the UK RAF’s Airborne Standoff Radar (ASTOR) platform. The ASTOR FBFCT is ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  BvS10 Beowulf

  BAE Systems Hägglunds launched the BvS10 Beowulf articulated tracked ATV at the September 2015 DSEI exhibition in the UK. The Beowulf is an unarmoured variant ...

• Light UGVs

  T7

  The T7 is a multi-mission robotic system designed for military, police and hazardous missions. At DSEI 2017, the UK MoD awarded the Harris Corporation a ...

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

  Sparta

  Unveiled in mid-2025, the Sparta is a fixed-wing small UAV from Quantum Systems. It is a mothership that can host and launch smaller drones, such ...

• Self-propelled guns

  AS90

  The AS90 155mm/39cal tracked SPH was designed and built by Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering (acquired by BAE Systems in 1999) to meet the requirements of ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  ADR+ Bowman VHF/Centaur

  The ADR+ is the VHF vehicle and manpack radio member of the ADR family of VHF radios developed initially for the UK Bowman programme. The ...

• Air-to-surface missiles

  Storm Shadow/SCALP EG

  The Storm Shadow is an air-launched cruise missile developed by France, Italy and the UK. It is known as the Storm Shadow in the UK ...

• Air: chaff/flare/decoy systems

  Vicon 78

  Thales’ Vicon-78 is a lightweight countermeasures dispensing system. The system is featured in several integrated defence systems, and is capable of firing both chaff and ...