• Defence Notes

  Why China's surveillance balloon is more intriguing than alarming

  3rd February 2023

  While capturing headlines, the intelligence-collection capabilities of the Chinese balloon currently floating over the US are likely limited.

• Air Warfare

  UPDATED: Australia cements interest in AARGM-ER missile with FMS request

  1st March 2023

  The US has approved Australia's FMS request for supply of the upcoming AARGM-ER missile, but the weapon is appealing to other F-35 users as well.

• Training

  New Indian supersonic trainer jet to supplement PC-7 and Hawk fleets

  15th February 2023

  The Indian Air Force has abandoned plans to acquire a two-seat trainer variant of the Tejas Mk 1 Light Combat Aircraft, opting instead for the HAL HLFT-42 supersonic jet.

• Defence Notes

  IDEX 2023: EDGE details core business strategies after Milrem acquisition

  21st February 2023

  EDGE believes its 'organic expansion' can include further acquisitions and mergers if the technology is a right fit.

• Naval Warfare

  India enlists French help to install AIP in Scorpene submarines

  30th January 2023

  India has taken an interesting step to add indigenously developed air-independent propulsion to its Scorpene/Kalvari submarines.

• Defence Notes

  Despite the hype, India remains far from making it as a defence exporter (Opinion)

  13th January 2023

  There are positive signs of growth in India's defence exports, but there can be no denying that the country is punching well below its weight.

• Digital Battlespace

  Reaper UAV tests new SATCOM capability

  6th February 2023

  General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GS-ASI) has successfully flight-tested a low-Earth-orbit SATCOM capability on board an MQ-9A aircraft.

• Air Warfare

  Sweden to extend capacity for Gripen fighter jet engine support

  3rd February 2023

  The Swedish Armed forces will invest to renovate and expand a GKN-run engine test facility for the Saab Gripen's turbofan powerplants.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  TB2 UAV conquers another export market with Kuwaiti order

  20th January 2023

  Turkish developer Baykar's best-selling TB2 has chalked up a 28th export customer, with more in the pipeline according to the company.

• Naval Warfare

  Navantia and SH Defence tie the knot on The Cube

  12th January 2023

  Navantia is the latest shipbuilder to link up with SH Defence in pursuit of modularity for naval vessels.

• Land Warfare

  IDEX 2023: US extends M1 Abrams tank support for MENA operators

  15th February 2023

  General Dynamics Land Systems has been awarded additional Foreign Military Sales funds to extend technical support work for M1 Abrams tanks operated by Egypt, Morocco, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.

• Land Warfare

  Germany explores new options for future armoured vehicles

  31st January 2023

  Germany has a range of requirements for additional or replacement armoured vehicles over the next decade. Shephard analyses how the German Army might use its share of the country's highly publicised €100 billion defence spending boost.

• Land Warfare

  Germany explores new options for future armoured vehicles

  31st January 2023

  Germany has a range of requirements for additional or replacement armoured vehicles over the next decade. Shephard analyses how the German Army might use its share of the country's highly publicised €100 billion defence spending boost.

• Naval Warfare

  Second LPD on the table in Algeria-Italy shipbuilding deal

  27th February 2023

  Algeria could get a second Landing Platform Dock (LPD) under a shipbuilding cooperation agreement being developed by Rome and Algiers.

• Defence Notes

  Turkish air defence system could pave way back to US fighter jet programmes

  11th January 2023

  The Siper surface-to-air missile system may serve as an indigenous replacement for the Russian S-400 controversially acquired by Turkey and leading to its expulsion from the F-35 programme.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Light tanks

  Light Tank Programme (Tracked) [Philippines]

  Programme Background The decision to split the programme into a wheeled and a tracked element follows the belief of the Philippine Army that this will ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  Programme Background  In February 2025, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste Simon Harris highlighted Irelands need to procure a new combat fighter jet to combat ...

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

  Polish Drones (Ukraine Aid) [Sweden]

  Background Swedish Support Package On 31 March 2025, the Swedish Government presented its 19th and largest military support package to Ukraine to date, valued at almost SEK ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | A400M (forecast) [United Kingdom]

  In April 2025, the Ministry of Defence confirmed that as part of the Strategic Defence Review is reviewing a potential purchase of additional A400M Atlas ...

• Data links

  Data links | A400M (forecast) [United Kingdom]

  In April 2025, the Ministry of Defence confirmed that as part of the Strategic Defence Review is reviewing a potential purchase of additional A400M Atlas ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | A400M (forecast) [United Kingdom]

  In April 2025, the Ministry of Defence confirmed that as part of the Strategic Defence Review is reviewing a potential purchase of additional A400M Atlas ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Landing Craft Utility (LCU) [Japan]

  According to the 2022 Defence Buildup Programme, Japan will procure new Landing Craft Utility (LCUs). This was already specified in the Medium Term Defence Programme (FY2019 ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Landing Craft Utility (LCU) [Japan]

  According to the 2022 Defence Buildup Programme, Japan will procure new Landing Craft Utility (LCUs). This was already specified in the Medium Term Defence Programme (FY2019 ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Landing Craft Utility (LCU)/Small Transport Vessels (1-4) [Japan]

  According to the 2022 Defence Buildup Programme, Japan will procure new Landing Craft Utility (LCUs). This was already specified in the Medium Term Defence Programme (FY2019 ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Landing Craft Utility (LCU)/Small Transport Vessels (1-4) [Japan]

  According to the 2022 Defence Buildup Programme, Japan will procure new Landing Craft Utility (LCUs). This was already specified in the Medium Term Defence Programme (FY2019 ...

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

  Harpia [Uruguay]

  Background Acquisition In March 2025, South American media reported that the Uruguayan Air Force (FAU) had deployed the Harpia UAV, which it had purchased from Advanced Technologies ...

• Military UAS - small

  Small UAV [Peru]

  Background UAV FAP UAV FAP is a family of Peruvian UAVs that have been developed by the Peruvian Air Force and the Centre for Research ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Naval UAV [Chile]

  Background Unsuccessful evaluations  In the early 2010s, the Chilean Navy reportedly tested the ScanEagle. However, the force’s requirements appeared to change, due to the organisation’s ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Manoeuvrable Boats (1-3) [Japan]

  According to the 2022 Defence Buildup Programme, Japan will procure new manoeuvrable boats for the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force (JGSDF). Deliveries are set to start ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Manoeuvrable Boats (1-3) [Japan]

  According to the 2022 Defence Buildup Programme, Japan will procure new manoeuvrable boats for the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force (JGSDF). Deliveries are set to start ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Anoa

  Pindad designed the 6x6 Anoa APC to meet the requirements of the Indonesian Army. Since the vehicle was publicly unveiled in November 2008, close to ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Antasena

  Antasena is an X-18 tank boat developed as a joint collaboration between CMI Defence and PT Lundin. The fast craft has been designed to support ...

• Wheeled assault guns

  Badak

  A prototype of the 90mm-armed 6x6 Badak (Indonesian for rhinoceros) direct fire support vehicle was unveiled at IndoDefence in November 2014 by Pindad and partner ...

• Core systems: cameras and IR detectors, EO/IR systems

  NightConqueror CMI

  The NightConqueror Compact Modular Imager (CMI) is the main component of a variety of thermal imaging systems. It is used in stabilised imaging turrets for ...

• Light tanks

  Tulpar Light Tank

  Otokar unveiled its tracked Tulpar Light Tank, which mounts CMI's Cockerill 3105 turret on Otokar's Tulpar IFV chassis, at the June 2018 Eurosatory exhibition. The ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  BTR-3

  Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau produced the first 8x8 BTR-3-series amphibious APC in 2001. The series includes the BTR-3U, the BTR-3U Guardian (variant for ...

• Land: manned turrets

  Cockerill CPWS 25-30

  The remotely-operated Cockerill Protected Weapon Station (CPWS) can be armed with 25 mm or 30 mm guns from various manufacturers and can be integrated on 4x4, ...

• Wheeled assault guns

  ERC 90 NG

  The ERC 90 Sagaie 6x6 armoured vehicles were acquired by the French Army to provide a well-armed vehicle for its rapid reaction armoured units. Capitalising ...

• Frigates

  Drazki Class

  The Bulgarian Navy's three Drazki-class frigates began life as four Wielingen-class (Type E-71) frigates with the Belgian Navy. The ships underwent a major refurbishment and ...

• Light tanks

  K21-105 Light Tank

  At IDEX 2013, Doosan and John Cockerill Defense presented the K21-105 Light Tank concept which integrates the Cockerill 105mm-armed XC-8 turret on the Doosan K21 ...

• Major networking projects

  Missile Defence

  In 2010, NATO rolled out an initial capability to protect alliance forces against missile threats and is now examining options for protecting territory and populations. ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Commando Select

  The Commando Select 4x4 APC, built on knowledge gained from the M1117 Armored Security Vehicle’s ten years of combat theatre use by the US Army, ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Anders Multirole Combat Platform

  The tracked WPB Anders multirole combat platform was designed to replace the BMP-1 IFV and other vehicles in Polish Army service. The Anders family is ...

• Land: RWS

  CPWS

  Building on the success of the Cockerill Protected Weapon Station (CPWS) 25-30, John Cockerill Defense introduced a new version of the CPWS at the June 2018 ...

• Major networking projects

  Defence Architecture Framework

  BAE Systems is developing a broad base of systems architecture expertise to execute network-centric warfare projects on behalf of the Australian Defence Force. This is ...