• Defence Notes

  US offers Niger operations centre to fight Boko Haram

  5th February 2019

  The US turned over a communications and operations centre to the Niger army on Monday to help the African nation battle Boko Haram.  The planning …

• Naval Warfare

  UK to boost amphibious capability with Future Littoral Strike Ships

  11th February 2019

  Not content with a raft of global military deployments, new bases and commitments to existing defence programmes, the UK Secretary of State for Defence, Gavin …

• Digital Battlespace

  Lockheed to develop cyber/EW podded system

  1st February 2019

  Lockheed Martin has received an $18 million contract to design, develop and test a cyber/EW podded system for the Air Large component of the US …

• Digital Battlespace

  Russia deploys a combat laser system

  9th January 2019

  The Russian MoD has revealed that on 1 December 2018 the so-called combat-experimental alert duty deployed its first ground-based combat laser system. Known as the …

• Digital Battlespace

  Raytheon to support US Army’s Sentinel radar

  31st January 2019

  Raytheon has received a contract to provide life cycle support for the US Army’s Sentinel radar, the company announced on 28 January. The $29 million …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Echodyne to participate in UAS UPP testing

  23rd January 2019

  Echodyne has joined the Northern Plains UAS Test Site (NPUASTS) industry team to test and demonstrate commercial UAS operations in the next phase of the …

• Digital Battlespace

  Finland selects ELTA’s ELM-2311 C-MMR radar

  24th January 2019

  IAI's Elta Systems has received a contract to supply its ELM-2311 compact multi-mission radar (C-MMR) to the Finnish Defence Forces. The ELM-2311 C-MMR is a …

• Digital Battlespace

  SRC demos AN/TPQ-49 radar capabilities

  24th January 2019

  SRC has announced that it successfully demonstrated the ability of its AN/TPQ-49 radar to conduct counter-UAS and air surveillance missions in September for the Australian …

• Land Warfare

  US Army eyes interim cruise missile defence

  16th January 2019

  The US Army is looking to field an interim cruise missile defence capability to provide near-term protection until the longer-term Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC) …

• Digital Battlespace

  European heavyweights Airbus, Altran targeted by cyberattacks

  31st January 2019

  European aerospace and defence group Airbus has launched an inquiry into the origin and targets of a cyberattack detected earlier in January 2019, the same …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  More FLIR Black Hornet PRS for US Army

  29th January 2019

  FLIR Systems will deliver its Black Hornet personal reconnaissance systems (PRS) in support of the US Army Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) programme, the company announced …

• Defence Notes

  TSC acquires ADS

  9th January 2019

  Technical Services Corporation (TSC) has acquired Accelerated Development & Support Corporation (ADS), a Virginia-based science and technology services provider, the company announced on 7 January. …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Silvus radios to support Aerovel’s FTUAS bid

  21st January 2019

  Silvus Technologies’ StreamCaster (SC4200) radios have been selected by Aerovel for its Flexrotor UAS in pursuit of the US Army Family of Tactical UAS (FTUAS) …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  MBDA’s Brimstone for UK Protector

  29th January 2019

  MBDA has received a contract for the integration of the Brimstone high-precision strike missile onto the Royal Air Force’s (RAF's) Protector RG Mk1 aircraft, the …

• Digital Battlespace

  BlackSky reaching the stars with its constellations

  30th January 2019

  Intelligence and data start-up BlackSky is pushing ahead with a vigorous constellation campaign which involves the launch of an anticipated 24 satellites over a period …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - small

  Medium Range Reconnaissance (MRR) / Rucksack Portable UAS (RPUAS) [USA]

  Background The Rucksack Portable UAS (RPUAS) programme The RPUAS programme will provide the battalion and below-ground manoeuvre elements within the US Army with an organic, ...

• Military UAS - mini

  U&C reconnaissance drones [US Army]

  Methodology PGO The programme has been assigned a PGO of 100%, as a contract has been awarded. Unit cost It has not been clarified what ...

• Transport

  C-27J [Azerbaijan]

  Programme Background The Azerbaijani Air Force signed a contract with Leonardo in June 2023 to procure the C-27J Spartan tactical transport aircraft. This move is ...

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

  Mini Reconnaissance Drones [Lithuania]

  Programme Background Planned Purchases On 14 September 2022, the Lithuanian MoD announced in a short statement on Twitter, now X, that it had begun organising ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  ISTAR UAS project [Canada]

  Programme Background Objective The Royal Canadian Navy's (RCN) main significant UAV project is the RCN Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance Unmanned Aircraft System (RCN ...

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

  Small Reconnaissance Drones [Lithuania]

  Programme Background Planned Purchases On 14 September 2022, the Lithuanian MoD announced in a short statement on Twitter, now X, that it had begun organising ...

• Frigates

  European Combat Vessel [Spain]

  Programme Background Requirements The European Combat Vessel (ECV) is currently a conceptual project that seeks to design a European collaborative multi-mission, modular warship. As of ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• Data links

  Data links | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• OPVs

  Harry DeWolf Class (AOPS) Coast Guard (7-8) [Canada]

  Background Requirements The new vessels will replace the CCGS Leonard J Cowley, an ice-strengthened fisheries patrol vessel that entered service in 1984 and CCGS Cygnus, a ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A400M [Germany]

  Programme Background Germany originally said it would but 60 A400Ms, but when the program was re-baselined in 2010 reduced its planed off take to 53, ...

• Destroyers

  Next-Generation Large Surface Combatants (LSC) - DDG(X) [USN]

  Programme Background Requirements The US Navy (USN) is acknowledging a need to move away from the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer design, which is slowly outgrowing. Flight III ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Counter-UAS systems

  MEHEL 2.0

  The Mobile Expeditionary High-Energy Laser (MEHEL) is a C-UAS-capable vehicle that employs directed energy to neutralise targets. MEHEL 2.0 was first seen at AUSA 2016, ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Fractl:2

  Fractl:2, developed and manufactured by AIM Defence, is an Australian laser directed energy weapon (LDEW). The high-powered portable system is Australia's first acquisition of a directed ...

• Counter-UAS systems

  DroneDefender

  DroneDefender is a directed-energy UAS countermeasure that disrupts the adversary's control of the aircraft, neutralising it so that no remote action (including detonation) can occur, ...

• Counter-UAS systems, Land: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  EJDERHA HPEM System

  The EJDERHA is a high power electromagnetic system manufactured by Aselsan. It generates high-amplitude electromagnetic fields and directs them to potential targets such as IEDs ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Apollo

  Apollo is a High-Energy Laser Weapon System manufactured by Electro Optic Systems (EOS). Apollo's laser utilises directed energy to disable or destroy aerial targets without ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  SCATA Mk1

  The SCATA Mk1 is the first military vehicle developed by Finland's SCATA.

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Locust

  BlueHalo's Locust is a laser weapon system. The system delivers a complete kill chain, providing a layered and broadband detection capability that is coupled with electronic ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Minotaur

  Minotaur, developed by Soukos Robots, is a Greek laser directed energy weapon (LDEW). Minotaur is an anti-drone platform with the ability to shoot down unmanned ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons, Self-propelled guns, Self-propelled missile systems

  SkyRanger 30

  SkyRanger 30 is a mobile ground-based air defence (GBAD) laser directed energy weapon (LDEW) system designed by Rheinmetall. The system comprises automatic cannons, guided missiles, and a ...

• OPVs

  PPA/MultiPurpose Combat Ship (MPCS) EVO

  The PPA/MultiPurpose Combat Ship (MPCS) EVO is an enhanced version of the Thaon di Revel-class PPAs unveiled at Euronaval 2024. The PPA/MPCS EVO retains the core platform ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  CROSSBOW MINI

  CROSSBOW MINI, developed by IPG Photonics, is a laser-directed energy weapon (LDEW). The LDEW has multiple deployable configurations and is a part of the manufacturers ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  DIAL

  The Laser Weapon Instrumental Demonstrator (DIAL), in joint development with Indra and Escribano Mechanical Engineering, is a Spanish laser directed energy weapon (LDEW). The system ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Archimedes

  Archimedes, developed by Aurelius Systems, is a laser-directed energy weapon designed to stop drones at scale. The system is still in development, though Aurelius received ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  ALKA-KAPLAN

  ALKA-KAPLAN is a collaborative effort between Turkish manufacturers ROKETSAN and FNSS. The system is a mobile armoured anti-drone system, which integrates the ALKA directed energy-weapon ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Italian LDEW (Leonardo/MBDA)

  As announced in December 2024, Leonardo and MBDA are collaborating to produce a Fire Unit Laser Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW) for the Italian Navy. The ...