• Special Operations

  Global threats and industry opportunities in focus (video)

  5th May 2025

  At SOF Week 2025 in Tampa, Florida, Stu Bradin, President and CEO of the Global SOF Foundation (GSOF), underscored the increasing operational demands placed on special operations forces (SOF) as global tensions mount.

• Land Warfare

  Paris Air Show 2025: MBDA bets on carmaker to help make new one-way effector

  16th June 2025

  The One-Way Effector (OWE) is a ground-launched missile or drome designed to act as a swarm to overwhelm air defence systems. It was displayed for the first time in Paris this week.

• Digital Battlespace

  Wave Relay devices cleared for security use on commercial systems in industry trend

  4th June 2025

  Persistent Systems has been cleared by National Security Agency (NSA) to transmit sensitive data on commercial networks. The devices are added to the NSA’s Commercial Solutions for Classified (CSfC) component list which also includes other companies’ products providing the same security.

• Air Warfare

  Japan targets T-4 replacement ahead of GCAP as pressure mounts to modernise pilot training

  6th June 2025

  The JASDF has been looking to replace its T-4 jet fighters amid concerns over training capacity and pilot readiness for fifth-gen fighters.

• Air Warfare

  DSEI 2025: Drone Evolution eyes UK and export markets with Scimitar FPV drone

  5th September 2025

  Launched at DSEI 2025 for the first time, the first-person-view uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) is available as 10-inch and 7-inch variant, ideal for surveillance or one-way strike missions.

• Air Warfare

  Paris Air Show 2025: Milkor and Hanwha partner to integrate the latter’s SAR payload into the Milkor 380

  17th June 2025

  Hanwha Systems and Milkor announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Paris Air Show to integrate the Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) system into the Milkor 380 drone.

• Land Warfare

  US Army’s Precision Strike Missile moves into production phase after test successes

  7th July 2025

  Lockheed Martin’s Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) is a next-generation surface-to-surface missile system and is a planned replanned replacement for MGM-140 Army Tactical Missiles System (ATACMS). It is to be fired from M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers.

• Air Warfare

  Australia bets big on new systems and local industry in the face of drone wars

  6th June 2025

  Australia has a small but vibrant drone and counter-drone industry ranging from niche dual technology company Grabba Technologies to large multinational like DroneShield. It is these companies and a reshaping of procurement methods to ramp up its drone power.

• Land Warfare

  Engineering and design mean smaller vehicles can be tank killers but is it a good idea?

  29th September 2025

  The eulogy for the dedicated tank hunter or buster appears to have been written with most armies putting them out to retirement in the face of alternatives like longer-range missiles or uncrewed aerial systems (UAS). However, arming infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) or armoured personnel carriers (APCs) with medium-range missiles seems to indicate some kind of tank killer is required.

• Naval Warfare

  Japan to nationally assemble ESSM Block 2 missiles

  24th June 2025

  RTX Raytheon will supply missile kits, parts and components to Mitsubishi Electric Corporation for the production of Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles Block 2.

• Land Warfare

  International consortium bids for Spanish 6x6 cavalry scout vehicle requirement

  16th May 2025

  Rival bids are expected for Spain’s 6x6 cavalry scout vehicle requirement, with an international consortium facing competition from major players including GDELS, Rheinmetall and the UAE’s Edge Group.

• Land Warfare

  Paris Air Show 2025: Fulgur air defence missile revealed in anticipation of potential market

  18th June 2025

  The missile was first unveiled at SeaFuture 2023 and later at the Farnborough International Airshow in July 2024. Operational delivery is expected in 2028.

• Air Warfare

  Paris Air Show 2025: A400M production moved forward as development plans outlined

  17th June 2025

  It is more than a decade since the Airbus A400M tactical lift aircraft entered service. More than 130 aircraft are in service around the world with nine countries, while another order has been made by Indonesia. The company is now looking to lower operational costs and increase the number of potential missions.

• Land Warfare

  Companies looking to develop integrated, mobile CUAS systems for frontline troops

  22nd July 2025

  Systems to detect and counter uncrewed aerial systems (CUAS), like drones and loitering munitions, are being integrated into tactical and light armoured vehicles to protect frontline units in a race to keep up with threats.

• Land Warfare

  Sweden turns to Nammo and Rheinmetall as world demand grows for 155mm shells

  9th July 2025

  Demand for ammunition continues to increase with manufacturing capability growing to match. Sweden have turned to the two supply lines of Rheinmetall and Nammo as part of a Nordic effort to meet demand. The Polish Government has also announced a US$700 million investment to boost manufacture of munitions.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• 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 - 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  Trainer/light attack aircraft [Egypt]

  Bids and suppliers Korea Aerospace Industries In March 2025, the Egyptian Ambassador to South Korea confirmed ongoing talks regarding the possible export of the FA-50 Fighting Eagle; ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Bayraktar TB2 [UAE]

  Background Rumoured earlier purchase In December 2021, Russian media reported that the UAE ordered eight Bayraktar TB2s from Baykar, claiming the deal was signed in late November ...

• 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 - 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 ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Akinci [UAE]

  Background 120 Baykar UAVs In September 2022, the Middle East Eye (MEE) reported that the UAE had been engaged in lengthy discussions since March 2022 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 - mini

  ISR Drones (First Batch) (Ukraine Aid) [Netherlands]

  Programme Background First Batch On 20 March 2024, Kajsa Ollongren, Minister of Defence of the Netherlands, announced that, following a 19 March Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) meeting, ...

• 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 ...

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 ...

• 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.

• 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 ...

• 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.