• Naval Warfare

  USS Ronald Reagan enters sea trials

  15th May 2018

  The US Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan, has departed Yokosuka, Japan, for sea trials after successful completion of a two-day fast cruise, the …

• Defence Helicopter

  BAE to demonstrate optical seeker for DARPA

  9th May 2018

  BAE Systems has received a $13.1 million contract from DARPA to demonstrate a new optical seeker for precision-guided munitions, the company announced on 7 May. …

• Land Warfare

  Vilkha missile system completes testing

  1st May 2018

  The Ukraine-built Vilkha missile system has completed final testing, Ukroboronprom announced on 25 April. The missile has been under development for the Ukraine Army for …

• Defence Helicopter

  Royal Navy welcomes first Merlin Mk4 delivery (video)

  25th May 2018

  The first Leonardo AW101 Commando Merlin Mk4 /Mk4A out of 25 aircraft was unveiled yesterday, during a ceremony at the Royal Navy Air Station, Yeovilton. The aircraft …

• Defence Helicopter

  Manila anticipates vanilla attack helicopters

  25th May 2018

  Jordan is expected to donate a pair of second-hand Bell AH-1F Cobra attack helicopters to the Philippine Air Force (PAF), according to the Philippine News …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  SNC to participate in DARPA’s Gremlins programme

  14th May 2018

  Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) will participate in Phase 3 of DARPA’s Gremlins programme as part of the team led by Dynetics, the company announced on …

• Naval Warfare

  Thales radar for FTI frigate enters production

  11th May 2018

  Thales has started production on the first Sea Fire radar for the French Navy’s Frégate de Taille Intermédiaire (FTI) future medium-size frigate programme, the company …

• Naval Warfare

  HHI cuts steel on first Philippine frigate

  8th May 2018

  Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) hosted a ceremony on 1 May to mark the initial cutting of steel for the first of the Philippine Navy’s (PN) …

• Defence Notes

  Netanyahu says Iran crossed 'red line' with rocket fire

  10th May 2018

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran had crossed a ‘red line’ by firing rockets at Israeli forces from Syria, leading to major Israeli air …

• Military Logistics

  GPM-72 fire-fighting tank approved for operations

  9th May 2018

  Ukroboronprom’s (UOP) GPM-72 fire-fighting tank has received approval for operation by the Ukrainian armed forces following successful completion of departmental testing, the company announced on …

• Land Warfare

  Lockheed receives Lot 13 GMLRS contract

  10th May 2018

  Lockheed Martin has received a $828 million contract from the US Army for Lot 13 production of Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rockets and …

• Digital Battlespace

  Sea Giraffe breathes down Philippines neck

  23rd May 2018

  Saab announced on 21 May that it was supplying two Sea Giraffe AMB naval radars to the USN for eventual installation aboard two Gregorio del …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Hatchet hits target in unmanned testing

  1st May 2018

  Orbital ATK is on target to reach technology readiness level (TRL) 7 with its Hatchet munition by the end of 2018. Previously, Orbital ATK and its …

• Land Warfare

  Orbital ATK receives PGK contract mod

  4th May 2018

  Orbital ATK has received a $146 million contract modification from the US Department of Defense (DoD) that extends precision guidance kit (PGK) production for 155mm …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  SOFEX 2018: Jordanian CH-4 makes public debut

  8th May 2018

  The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) CH-4 MALE UAV in service with the Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF) has made its first public …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Loitering munitions

  Organic Precision Fire - Medium (OPF-M) [USMC]

  Background Request for Waiver (RFW) In April 2026, the USMC announced a new programme, the Organic Precision Fire - Medium (OPF-M), to equip the Fleet ...

• Long Range Missile Defence Systems: > 90km range

  Long Range Air Defence [Belgium]

  Background In its Strategic Vision Defence 2025 Capability Investment Portfolio (CIP) document, Belgium announced that it has budgeted €1,981,590,000 ($2,287,101,638) for three long-range air defence systems. A decision is ...

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

  Scorpio 500 [US]

  Background Contract Award In December 2024, XTEND was awarded a US$8.8 million contract by the US Department of Defense (DoD) for its Scorpio 500. As reported by ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Mobile Tactical Cannon [USA]

  Background The US Army began using the M777 in 1995. Since then, it has served as a field artillery piece providing fire support for American ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  T-50 [Thailand]

  The purchase had been earlier approved by the Thai cabinet on 11 July 2017.  AVM Pongsak Semachai revealed that the aircraft would be paid for ...

• Loitering munitions

  Organic Precision Fire - Light (OPF-L) (Uncontracted) [USMC]

  Background Force Design 2030 The USMC Force Design 2030 is a modernisation effort to create a lighter, more agile maritime force. In May 2022, an annual update ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Cobra IFV [Indonesia]

  Programme Background It is unclear how many different variants of the Cobra have been ordered by the TNI-AD, but it is thought that the majority ...

• Loitering munitions

  Echelon 2: Ground Organic Precision Strike Systems (GOPSS) [USSOCOM]

  Programme Background Requirements The U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has made loitering capabilities a priority in its efforts to support counter-violent extremist organization (C-VEO) operations and ...

• Self-propelled mortars

  Project Stokes [UK]

  Background The British Army does not currently operate any self-propelled mortars. The war in Ukraine has demonstrated that static fire support platforms are increasingly vulnerable ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Piranha V [Denmark]

  Programme Background In February 2013, the Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organization (DALO) selected the Piranha V as one of five contenders for evaluation to ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  T-50 Follow-On [Thailand]

  Programme Background The Royal Thai Air Force  (RTAF) exercised its option to purchase additional two aircraft from an earlier deal. The RTAF purchased four T-50 jets in ...

• Loitering munitions

  Loitering Munition 1 [Taiwan]

  Programme Background 2023 At Taichung in March 2023, NCSIST unveiled the loitering munition. The munition showed the country's focus on asymmetric capabilities to defend itself ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Land 400 Phase 2 - Boxer CRV [Australia]

  Programme Background History The Land 400 Phase 2 programme will procure a replacement for the ASLAV, a derivative of the General Dynamics Land Systems Light Armoured Vehicle ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Cobra IFV [Indonesia - Batch 2]

  Programme Background It is unclear how many different variants of the Cobra have been ordered by the TNI-AD, but it is thought that the majority ...

• Loitering munitions

  Maritime Launched Effects (MLE) [US]

  Background Origin The loitering munition effort dates back to at least 2018 and was previously called Maritime Precision Engagement (MPE). The US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Self-propelled rocket launchers

  PULS

  The PULS (Precise & Universal Launching System) from Elbit Systems is a modular, truck‑mounted multiple‑launch rocket/missile system developed in Israel to provide flexible long‑range fires ...

• Artillery rockets

  Predator Hawk

  The Predator Hawk artillery rocket, developed by Elbit Systems, is a high-precision, long-range weapon designed to engage targets at distances up to 300km. 

• Land: Defensive Systems - Gunshot Detection / Hostile Fire Indicator

  SWAD

  Small Arms Fire Warning and Direction System (SWAD) is a passive, stationary EO gunshot detection and hostile fire indicator manufactured by Elbit Systems. It is ...

• Land: COMINT and ELINT systems

  SkyFix DF

  The SkyFix DF is a lightweight, high-precision COMINT/DF system covering the 30MHz-3GHz frequency band. It uses a correlative interferometer technique and wide aperture, high-precision antenna ...

• Guided munitions

  Mini Lizard

  The Mini Lizard is a compact, precision-guided munition developed by Elbit Systems, tailored for light attack aircraft. Weighing approximately 9kg, the Mini Lizard is designed to ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  Thor

  Thor is a VTOL small-UAV manufactured by Elbit Systems. The platform is designed for ISR missions and features a real-time HD data link and unique ...

• Major networking projects

  ELBIT TIGER

  Tactical Intranet Geographic Dissemination in Real Time (TIGER) is a tactical communications system that integrates media, including legacy and narrowband channels, creating an end-to-end, unified ...

• Land: RWS

  Elbit UT50

  Announced in FQ4 2022, the Elbit UT50 is Elbit Systems of America's latest RWS mounted with a 50mm XM913 cannon. Elbit's development of a 50mm variant ...

• EO/IR systems, Sea: ship surveillance and fire control systems

  MSP 500

  The MSP 500 (Multi-Sensor Platform) is an electro-optical fire control and reconnaissance system developed by STN Atlas Elektronik and Zeiss Optronik and produced by Rheinmetall Defence ...

• Guided munitions

  Excalibur N5

  The Excalibur N5 is a 5-inch (127mm) naval variant of the Excalibur precision-guided artillery projectile, engineered to enhance the capabilities of naval gunfire. Designed for ...

• Towed guns

  ATHOS 2052

  The 155mm/52 calibre Autonomous Towed Howitzer Ordnance System (ATHOS) 2052 is a towed system offered by Elbit Systems, which acquired artillery manufacturer Soltam in 2010.Equipped ...

• Land: battle management systems

  Torch-X Mounted

  Elbit Systems Torch-X Mounted is a battle management solution that notably includes fire control capability and AI-powered decision support tools. According to news sources, the ...

• Light tanks

  ASCOD MMBT

  GDELS unveiled the ASCOD Medium Main Battle Tank (MMBT), a 120mm-armed 42 tonne tank based on its tracked ASCOD IFV, at Eurosatory 2018.  The ASCOD MMBT ...

• Self-propelled guns

  ATMOS

  Unveiled in 1999, the Autonomous Truck Mounted Howitzer System (ATMOS) was developed by Soltam Systems (now Elbit Systems) as a private venture to meet the ...

• Land: vehicle simulators

  AGTS

  The Advanced Gunnery Training System (AGTS) is designed to train individuals, crews and platoons in the skills of precision gunnery. It provides training on procedures, ...