• Training

  Thailand signs on the dotted line for Texan IIs

  28th September 2020

  The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has officially ordered 12 Beechcraft T-6C Texan II trainer aircraft and associated services from Textron Aviation Defense, in a direct …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  India gives Hugin an underwater embrace

  7th October 2020

  The Indian Navy is adopting Kongsberg AUVs for operations from new survey ships, which are currently under construction

• Naval Warfare

  RN embarks on experimental deployment of Littoral Response Group

  17th September 2020

  An RN task group, led by the landing platform dock ship HMS Albion, has departed the UK for a three-month deployment to the Mediterranean and …

• Naval Warfare

  Venezuela acquired C-802A anti-ship missiles from China

  30th September 2020

  Prevented by international sanctions from buying Western-made equipment, the Venezuelan regime of President Nicolas Maduro is more aligned than ever with China, Iran and Russia …

• Land Warfare

  Thai marines to get First Win IIs

  1st September 2020

  Chaiseri won a contract last month from the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) for the procurement of two First Win II 4x4 armoured vehicles. The Naval …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Australia homes in on new ASW target

  16th September 2020

  The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) will receive Saab’s AUV62-AT anti-submarine warfare target under an A$11 million ($8.07 million) deal, while elsewhere research is taking place …

• Military Logistics

  UK and Canadian companies win MRO work for US KC-130Js

  1st October 2020

  UK-based Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group announced on 1 October that it has obtained a ten-year ‘multi-million dollar’ multiple-award contract from US Naval Supply Systems …

• Defence Notes

  Argentina and Uruguay seek to kickstart modernisation with special funds

  23rd September 2020

  Argentina and Uruguay have each created funds and financial mechanisms to pay for new defence equipment, as they seek solutions to long-running modernisation requirements. On …

• Digital Battlespace

  UAE gains more THAAD radar support from Raytheon

  28th September 2020

  Raytheon is providing the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with one prime power unit and five years of support services for two Army/Navy Transportable Radar Surveillance …

• Digital Battlespace

  Indra and Spanish Navy harness unsupervised AI

  21st September 2020

  Indra, in conjunction with the Spanish Navy’s Data Monitoring and Analysis Center (CESADAR), is developing one of the first technological demonstrators in the world based …

• Defence Helicopter

  Germany cancels heavy-lift helicopter acquisition

  29th September 2020

  Germany has announced the cancellation of the long running CH-53G heavy-lift helicopter replacement tender, citing budgetary difficulties and after close examination of industry offers. The …

• Air Warfare

  RAAF receives extra support for F-35A induction

  17th September 2020

  Lockheed Martin is providing additional labour resources to support the induction of the first Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F-35A Lightning II multirole fighter. A …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Russia jumps on the MUM-T bandwagon

  25th September 2020

  One of the most interesting developments from the Army 2020 exhibition last month was the unveiling by Kronstadt Group of the Grom UCAV as Russia’s …

• Training

  Bahrain to receive AH-1Z flight training device

  10th September 2020

  Bell Textron on 9 September was awarded a $8.94 million contract modification to produce, deliver, install and integrate a fully assembled flight training device for …

• Naval Warfare

  US naval procurement commitments rise despite COVID pressures

  24th September 2020

  Amid the pressures brought on by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and USN efforts to recapitalise in key capability areas, naval spending has increased …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Loitering munitions

  Loitering Munition (Royal Navy) [UK]

  Background Persistent Operational Deployment Systems (PODS) As the Royal Navy stated in 2022, Persistent Operational Deployment Systems (PODS) are “interchangeable modules that can be fitted to ...

• Directed energy weapons

  Project Dragonfire [UK]

  Background The UK Government's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) has been working with MBDA, Leonardo and QinetiQ to develop a LASER Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW) called ...

• Military UAS - small

  T-150 (Royal Navy) [UK]

  Background Deployment On 7 April 2025, the Royal Navy announced that, for the first time, nine T-150 drones would be operated from the HMS Prince ...

• Land: air defence radar

  Lanza 3D Radar [Thailand]

  Background Thailand is procuring the LANZA 3D radar to strengthen surveillance and protection of Sattahip Naval Base. The radar will be deployed by the Royal ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Flexible Tactical Uncrewed Air System (FTUAS) [UK]

  Background Tender notice and timeline On 25 May 2021, the MoD published a tender notice for the urgent acquisition of a UAS and ancillaries under ...

• Military UAS - small

  Puma 3 AE (UK)

  Programme Background Testing The Royal Navy announced in October 2020 that the Puma was undergoing its first operational testing on HMS Albion's autumn deployment to ...

• Frigates

  Hamilton Class Cutter [Bahrain]

  Background Very little has been said about the transfer of an ex-Hamilton-class cutter to Bahrain, but it is one of the final two to leave ...

• Patrol boats

  Evolved Cape Class (1-6) [Australia]

  Programme Background Austal was awarded a contract to build six 'Evolved' Cape-class patrol boats for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) on 1 May 2020. The contract ...

• Patrol boats

  Evolved Cape Class (7-8) [Australia]

  Programme Background Austal was awarded a contract to build six 'Evolved'Cape-class patrol boats for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) on 1 May 2020 (see separate ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Boraida Class replacement [Saudi Arabia]

  Background Requirements The Royal Saudi Navy urges the replacement of three Boraida-class minehunters. Based on the Durance-class design, the ships entered service in the mid-1980s ...

• Minehunters

  Lat Ya Class Replacement Programme [Thailand]

  Programme Background Requirements The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) currently operates two Lat Ya-class minehunters, commissioned in the late 1990s. The units are based on the ...

• Frigates

  Air Defence Frigates Procurement [Denmark]

  Background Requirements After focusing on the procurement of new highly capable patrol ships and new Arctic frigates as a replacement for the Thetis-class, Shephard had initially estimated ...

• Frigates

  Karel Dorman Class (Chile)

  Programme Background  Chile currently operates two ex-Karel Doorman-class frigates which were sold in 2004. The Royal Netherlands Navy are in the process of replacing the ...

• Military UAS - small

  V-Bat [Netherlands]

  Background Contract award On 9 July 2025, Shield AI announced that the Netherlands MoD had acquired eight V-Bat aircraft, specifically the V-Bat 400, to enhance the maritime ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Multi-Role Support Ship (MRSS) (3) [Malaysia]

  Programme Background Requirements The Royal Malaysian Navy are in the process of a fleet transformation plan known as the 15 to 5 Transformation Plan, which ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Submarine-launched torpedoes

  Mk 48 Mod 7AT CBASS

  The MK 48 MOD 7 Common Broadband Advanced Sonar System (CBASS) is the latest variant of the Mk 48 torpedo family manufactured by Lockheed Martin and ...

• Military - UUVs

  XV Excalibur

  XV Excalibur is an Extra Large Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (XLUUV) built by UK-based MSubs, in conjunction with the Royal Navy. It is an experimental vessel ...

• Frigates

  Hunter Class (Type 26)

  The Hunter-class frigates for the Royal Australian Navy are based on the Type 26 design. The ships are set to replace the Anzac-class under the ...

• Sea: naval fire control radar

  Ceros 200

  The Ceros 200 is a radar and optronic tracking system designed for use on naval vessels. When interfaced with modern missile or gun systems, it ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  Royal Danish Navy MH-60R MOFT

  In January 2014, CAE was awarded an FMS contract by the USN to develop an MH-60R mission operational flight trainer (MOFT) for the Royal Danish ...

• Frigates

  Naresuan Class

  The Naresuan-class guided-missile frigates are a modified variant of the Chinese-built Type 053 frigate. The two ships-in-class were built by the China State Shipbuilding Corporation ...

• Destroyers

  River Class (Type 26)

  The Type 26 Anti-Submarine Warfare frigate has been designed for the UK Royal Navy, but with an emphasis on export. Both the Royal Canadian Navy ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  AN/SPY-7(V)1

  The AN/SPY-7(V)1 is a solid-state naval surveillance radar produced and manufactured by Lockheed Martin. The system is expected to be fully integrated into programmes for ...

• Frigates

  Jacob Van Heemskerck Class

  The Jacob van Heemskerck class frigates were ex-Royal Netherlands Navy frigates that also served under the Chilean Navy, also known as the Latorre-class. Two anti-aircraft warfare (AAW) ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Walrus

  The Walrus is a mini rotary-wing UAV manufactured by the Royal Navy's 700X Naval Air Squadron.  As stressed during the December 2022 announcement, Walrus has been ...

• Land: battlefield and ground surveillance radar

  RD-170BT

  The RD-170BT is a man-portable surveillance radar deployed ashore to protect moored patrol boats of the Royal Norwegian Navy. 

• Minehunters

  Sandown Class

  The Sandown class vessels are coastal minehunters and OPVs in service with the UK Royal Navy and Royal Saudi Naval Forces as the Al Jawf class. Additionally, ...

• Military - UUVs

  Mission Specialist Defender

  The Mission Specialist Defender is a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) developed by VideoRay, now part of BlueHalo's unmanned maritime systems. The ROV is known ...

• Frigates

  Type 22 (Batch 1)

  The Type 22 frigates were previously the Broadsword-class in service with the UK's Royal Navy. The vessels were built in three batches, with the first ...

• Sea: weapon training

  Inflatable Naval Gunnery Targets

  GeoData produces a range of Naval Gunnery Target Balloons (NavTGTs) for use by marine, navy, coast guard and army units to maintain target acquisition and ...