• Training

  Australia’s exercise tempo increases as it looks east for national defence

  7th October 2024

  The Australian Government has focused heavily on the defence of its north-west coast, with plans to move its attack helicopters to the area, as well as base its maritime patrol assets in the region.

• Naval Warfare

  Anti-drone directed energy weapons continue to evolve at sea

  7th November 2024

  Defence companies have been accelerating the roll out of directed energy weapon systems to counter the growing importance of drones in modern maritime warfare.

• Naval Warfare

  Royal Navy sails autonomous RIB in UK waters for the first time

  2nd December 2024

  The RIB trials are expected to inform rapid future RN deployment of autonomous vessel technology.

• Naval Warfare

  South Korea receives first Batch-III frigate and issues contracts for other vessels

  17th January 2025

  South Korea is moving ahead at speed with its frigate programme, involving both domestic heavy-hitting shipbuilders.

• Defence Notes

  Unfolding the Golden Dome for America: Seven things you should know about the programme

  3rd June 2025

  Shephard talked to multiple experts about the most pressing concerns and considerations regarding the air defence system advocated by President Trump.

• Naval Warfare

  Fincantieri begins cutting steel for the Italian Navy’s new OPVs

  25th September 2024

  The company will build four offshore patrol vessels for the Italian Navy, with an option for another two. The first of the new vessels will not be expected to launch until 2027.

• Naval Warfare

  NATO allies gather in Scotland for major naval exercises

  15th October 2024

  Exercise Strike Warrior will run for two weeks, training navies in interoperability and combat techniques.

• Air Warfare

  T-6 Texan II trainers deepen their footprint in Asia

  20th December 2024

  Textron Aviation Defense has said it is confident it can continue to grow orders across Asia as Japan selects the T-6 Texan II to replace the Fuji T-7.

• Naval Warfare

  How bad management could put the US Navy’s cruiser fleet far behind Chinese capabilities

  27th December 2024

  While China has been rapidly advancing with the development of the Type 055 class, the US Navy has been struggling to progress with the modernisation of its cruiser fleet.

• Naval Warfare

  Germany and Finland suspect “hybrid sabotage” of undersea infrastructure

  20th November 2024

  Without naming a culprit, the defence ministers of both nations expressed concern about “deliberate” severing of undersea internet cables.

• Defence Notes

  US companies invest in production capabilities to satisfy DoD’s hunger for cutting-edge capabilities

  18th October 2024

  BAE Systems, Booz Allen Hamilton and Lockheed Martin have been betting on new facilities and innovative manufacturing technologies to speed up the development of new solutions.

• Naval Warfare

  RFA Support Ships pass design review stage

  23rd October 2024

  The UK’s Royal Fleet Auxiliary Solid Support Ships have found the design review plain sailing and will now move forward to construction stages.

• Naval Warfare

  Royal Navy looks to OPV dry dock activities in Asia-Pacific

  15th August 2024

  The UK Royal Navy is expanding its Indo-Pacific logistics network, with HMS Spey and HMS Tamar set to undergo dry dock servicing in the region, while the force continues its long-term deployment for operations and defence engagement in the region.

• Air Warfare

  US Air Force tests low-cost method to defeat surface vessels from the air

  14th August 2024

  The demonstration was conducted under the QUICKSINK programme in partnership with the US Navy.

• Air Warfare

  Australia wins approval from US for 100 AGM-88G missiles

  30th September 2024

  All Australia’s fixed-wing fighter aircraft can carry the missiles and work has been underway to investigate the use of the missile from P-8A MPAs which are also operated by Australia.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• 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 ...

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

  Intra-Theatre Lift [UK]

  Programme Background  Relationship to the Heavy Lift Challange The Royal Navy (RN) embarked on the Heavy Lift Challenge, now called the Heavy Lift Capability (UASHLC), to explore ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Project Vanquish: Autonomous Collaboration Platform (ACP) [UK]

  Background Autonomous Collaboration Platform (ACP) Strategy Reflecting on lessons learned from the cancellation of the Mosquito programme, the Royal Air Force (RAF) redefined the role ...

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

  StormShroud: Autonomous Collaboration Platform (ACP) [UK]

  Background Autonomous Collaboration Platform (ACP) Strategy Reflecting on lessons learned from the cancellation of the Mosquito programme, the Royal Air Force (RAF) redefined the role ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | C295 MPAs [India]

  In February 2024, India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to purchase 15 maritime patrol aircraft for about $3.5 billion. The Indian ...

• Data links

  Data links | C295 MPAs [India]

  In February 2024, India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to purchase 15 maritime patrol aircraft for about $3.5 billion. The Indian ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | C295 MPAs [India]

  In February 2024, India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to purchase 15 maritime patrol aircraft for about $3.5 billion. The Indian ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | C295 MPAs [India]

  In February 2024, India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to purchase 15 maritime patrol aircraft for about $3.5 billion. The Indian ...

• Maritime patrol

  C295 MPAs [India]

  Programme Background In February 2024, India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to purchase 15 maritime patrol aircraft for about $3.5 ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Maritime Patrol Aircraft [Singapore]

  Singapore requires a replacement platform for five Fokker 50 Maritime Enforcer Mk.2 aircraft. The total programme cost for five long-range maritime patrol aircraft is estimated to be ...

• Data links

  Data links | Maritime Patrol Aircraft [Singapore]

  Singapore requires a replacement platform for five Fokker 50 Maritime Enforcer Mk.2 aircraft. The total programme cost for five long-range maritime patrol aircraft is estimated to be ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Maritime Patrol Aircraft [Singapore]

  Singapore requires a replacement platform for five Fokker 50 Maritime Enforcer Mk.2 aircraft. The total programme cost for five long-range maritime patrol aircraft is estimated to be ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Maritime Patrol Aircraft [Singapore]

  Singapore requires a replacement platform for five Fokker 50 Maritime Enforcer Mk.2 aircraft. The total programme cost for five long-range maritime patrol aircraft is estimated to be ...

• Maritime patrol

  C295 MPA [Angola]

  Programme Background Requirement Angola uses a mix of Dornier Do-28s, A-29s and EMB-312 Tucanos for maritime surveillance duties. The country's dedicated maritime patrol capability was ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Israel Heron Lease

  Programme BackgroundIn February 2018, Greece announced that it would lease seven Heron drones from Israel. The lease contract, worth €35.5 million ($44m), will cover a ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  AR5

  First announced in October 2012, the AR5 is a MALE UAS designed for SAR, surveillance and maritime patrol missions. The AR5 can be flown manually or commanded ...

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

  AR3

  The AR3, or AR3 Net Ray, is an autonomous small-UAS designed to support land-based and maritime missions.  In May 2025, the Royal Air Force announced ...

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

  AR3 EVO

  Unveiled at DSEI 2025, the AR3 EVO is a small fixed-wing UAV from Tekever. The system is highly modular and can be configured in a ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  ARX

  Unveiled at Xponential 2024, the ARX is a fixed-wing drone developed by Tekever.  It features common electronics and software with other Tekever drones. Unlike those ...

• EO/IR systems

  PT-8DN

  The PT-8DN is a versatile day-night payload from Overwatch Imaging.  It has dual RGB sensors of different focal lengths and an HD LWIR sensor. It also ...

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

  AR2 Carcará

  The AR2 Carcará is a hand- or catapult-launched mini-UAV designed to support search and rescue, surveillance and patrol operations in amphibious and maritime environments. It is ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  AR4

  The AR4 is a hand-launched mini-UAS designed for rapid mobile deployment. Manufactured by Tekever, the UAS is suitable for both military and commercial ISTAR applications.  A ...

• EO/IR systems

  PT-8N

  The PT-8D is an IR system from Overwatch Imaging. It is fitted with multiple HD thermal cameras and has been designed to conduct missions at dusk ...

• EO/IR systems

  PT-8D

  Marketed as a cost-effective solution, the PT-8D is a wide-area search and ISR payload from Overwatch Imaging. It features an RGB colour camera and a ...

• Subsystems: hardware

  Maritime Console

  The Discovery Machine Maritime Console can create highly intelligent entities for use in simulated training events. It is designed to work with the USN Joint ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems

  FlyingFish Maritime

  The FlyingFish Maritime SIGINT system is one of several derivatives of the FlyingFish Airborne Satellite Monitoring System developed by Horizon Technologies. Designed to be mounted ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  SitaWare Maritime

  Developed by Systematic, SitaWare Maritime is a C4ISR system that emphasises interoperability, the ability to provide a recognised maritime picture, and data-led decision-making aids. According ...

• Maritime patrol

  Cessna Maritime Patrol

  The Cessna 'special mission' Maritime Patrol Aircraft is a variant of the Cessna Citation Longitude business jet developed by Textron aviation. Textron has stated the onboard systems, ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Torch-X Maritime

  Produced by Elbit Systems, the Torch-X Maritime is a combat management system which combines mature COTS components into an open-architecture C4I suite. Notably, the system ...

• Data links

  Maritime Tactical Data Link

  The Maritime Tactical Data Link (MTDL) is a developmental tactical data link by Hanwha Systems. Offered in 16 configurations, the system is based on the ...