• Training

  Australia invests in armour training

  8th February 2021

  A new simulation centre for armoured vehicles will enable the Australian Army to train with upgraded and new platforms.

• Air Warfare

  Aero India 2021: HAL pushes the IMRH the Indian military’s way

  5th February 2021

  HAL feels confident about developing a medium-weight helicopter, but it requires the Indian military to feel the same way.

• Land Warfare

  Austria signs up for more Pandur Evos

  1st February 2021

  The Austrian Minister of Defence signed a €106 million ($128 million) contract to procure 30 Pandur 6x6 Evolution (Evo) wheeled armoured vehicles. Deliveries are scheduled to take place between 2022 and 2023.

• Naval Warfare

  Ecuador builds for the future

  3rd February 2021

  Shipyard ASTINAVE is expanding its facilities as it builds a new multi-purpose vessel for the Ecuadorian Navy, but the project has been hampered by COVID-related delays and its overall cost is unclear.

• Training

  SDTS partners Rafaut Group for red air

  21st January 2021

  Although Secapem and Lun'Tech have been sold to the Rafaut Group, the former Secapem company SDTS remains independent as a partner with Rafaut. SDTS provides Red Air aggressor and target towing services.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Udar evolves with no destination in sight

  3rd March 2021

  What is the next step for the Udar combat UGV, after it has already undergone two redesigns in its short lifetime?

• Land Warfare

  Future Spanish armoured vehicles will feature innovative capabilities

  5th February 2021

  The Spanish Army plans to operate armoured vehicles equipped with innovative capabilities and emerging technologies. They will have many sensors and systems to facilitate identifying targets and accelerate the decision-making process.

• Land Warfare

  Oshkosh to make FMTV armour upgrade kits

  8th February 2021

  Latest order is funded by the DoD European Deterrence Initiative.

• Land Warfare

  Russia puts Bumerang on the global market

  22nd February 2021

  Bumerang has been approved for export and presented at two trade shows already this year – but as its name suggests, efforts to sell the wheeled armoured platform could rebound.

• Naval Warfare

  German naval laser weapon development takes shape

  28th January 2021

  A demonstrator system featuring laser capabilities is to be tested under realistic conditions on a German Navy frigate in 2022.

• Military Logistics

  Philippines receives first Hercules for heavy lifting

  1st February 2021

  The airlift capacity of the Philippine Air Force is insufficient, so the arrival of an ex-USAF Hercules will be particularly welcome.

• Land Warfare

  US Army focuses on Project Convergence to ensure readiness

  27th January 2021

  Focused on the 'joint fight' with other branches of the armed forces, the US Army is hoping to apply lessons learned from Project Convergence to prepare troops and capabilities for integration into all-domain operations.

• Defence Notes

  UK ambitions fail to bridge the gap to fiscal reality

  18th February 2021

  In a changing world some things stay the same, such as the MoD’s tendency to overcommit itself financially. Can the ministry avoid lurching from one financial crisis to another in the decade ahead?

• Land Warfare

  Brazil analyses acquisition of new vehicles

  26th January 2021

  The Brazilian Army is conducting analysis and feasibility studies to procure, develop or upgrade ground vehicles. One of the projects aims to acquire 221 platforms to replace the VBR MSR EE9-Cascavel.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Indian infantry to get swarms of UAVs

  28th January 2021

  Spurred by UAVs being used in conflicts overseas, the Indian Army is exploring UAV swarms to attack an enemy.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

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

  Nauru 1000C [Brazil]

  Programme Background The Logistics Command (COLOG) of the Brazilian Army purchased three Nauru 1000C UAVs, training, 36-month interested logistics support, two EO/MWIR XSIS 222A gimbals, two ...

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

  WanderB or ThunderB [Colombia]

  Programme Background Expodefensa 2019 During Colombia's Expodefensa 2019 exhibition, BlueBird Aero Systems displayed its ThunderB VTOL small UAV. Reportedly, the Colombian Army requested information on ...

• Mexico Light Armoured Reconaissance Vehicle

  Programme Background The Mexican Army is struggling to maintain its large fleet of ageing armoured vehicles, the vast majority of which have significantly exceeded their ...

• VMOE

  Programme Background The Spanish Army's SOF units are procuring the VMOE to meet their requirements for an SOV with sufficient firepower, mobility and mine-protection to ...

• Military UAS - micro

  NX70 Microdrone (First Batch)

  Programme Background The French Army procured the NX70 to meet an urgent operational requirement for a small UAS that could provide short-range ISR for dismounted ...

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

  CU172 Blackjack (Second System) [Canada]

  Programme Background Requirement The Canadian Army identified a requirement for two new tactical UAV systems after recognising that the squadron and company-level Aerovironment RQ-11 Raven ...

• Landing craft and hovercraft

  US Army Maneuver Support Vessel Light (MSVL)

  Programme BackgroundThe Maneuver Support Vessel (Light) or MSV(L) contract was awarded by the US Army to Vigor in 2017 and are being built to replace ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  French Operational Pocket Drone / DrOP (France)

  Programme Background French UAV Procurment / DrOP Under its 2019-2025 Military Programming Law (LPM), France aims to introduce 1,200 new UAVs into service with the ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Puma IFV (Contracted)

  By March 2019, 269 of the 350 Pumas on order had been delivered to the German Army. Deliveries of the remaining 81 vehicles are scheduled ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  VBMR Griffon [France]

  Programme Background Development of the Griffon commenced in 2014 when the consortium of Arquus, Nexter and Thales was awarded a development contract to design the ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Bayraktar TB2 (Pre-War) [Ukraine Army]

  Programme Background The Ukraine Army purchased 12 TB2 units in January 2019 for a reported $69 million. The units were reportedly delivered from June 2019 ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Rosomak [Poland - Second Batch]

  Programme Background Requirement The Polish Army selected Patria's XC-360 Armored Modular Vehicle (AMV) to meet its requirement for a new 8x8 armoured vehicle to replace ...

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

  CU172 Blackjack (First System) [Canada]

  Background Requirement The Canadian Army identified a requirement for two new tactical UAV systems after recognising that the squadron and company-level Aerovironment RQ-11 Raven (CU173 ...

• AGMV 1.1

  Programme Background The US Army has been seeking a lightweight, air-droppable, high mobility vehicle since as early as 2014, when it initiated its Ultra Light ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) [USA]

  Programme Background Requirement In 2018, the US Army initiated the FARA project to develop a replacement for Army attack and scout helicopters, such as the OH-58D Kiowa and AH-64 ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Landing craft and hovercraft

  LCU 2000 (Runnymede-class)

  The LCU 2000 class is in service with the US Army. They were built by VT Halter Marine and first entered service in February 1990. The ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  WZ-8

  First shown in October 2019, the WZ-8 is HALE UAV. Two closed-cycle liquid-fuelled rocket engines power the WZ-8 to a claimed supersonic speed of Mach 3.  In ...

• Land: RWS

  Guardian 2.0

  The Guardian 2.0 RWS is an upgraded version of Escribano's Guardian RWS in service with the Spanish Army, which offers improved sensors and better stabilisation. ...

• Counter-UAS systems

  Sapsan-Bekas

  Unveiled at ARMY-2019 in Moscow, the Sapsan-Bekas is a C-UAS system comprising active radar, video and EO tracking, signal detection and jamming subsystems. The system ...

• Main battle tanks

  C2 Ariete

  The C2 Ariete is an upgraded variant of the C1 Ariete, designed for the Italian Army in the 1990s. Work on the C2 began in ...

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

  Nauru 1000C

  Manufactured by XMobtos, the Nauru 1000C is a VTOL-capable small fixed-wing UAV. The UAV features a hybrid propulsion system, autopilot and a gyro-stabilised payload. It is designed to ...

• Land: battle management systems

  Comm@nder Army

  Comm@nder Army is an integrated C4I system suitable for use in command post operational environments (infrastructure, shelter-based), providing specialised application services from the HQ of ...

• Sniper rifles

  SV-18

  The SV-18 is a light sniper rifle in a 12.7mm calibre, designed to be easier to carry and operate than existing rifles of that family. 

• Military helicopters - light/training

  LUH

  The Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) is being developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to meet the requirements of the Indian Army and Indian Air Force ...

• Military UAS - MALE, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Night Intruder 600 Vertical Take-Off (NI-600VT)

  The Night Intruder 600 Vertical Take-Off (NI-600VT) is an in-development UAV from Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) based on an MD 500 twin-seat American commercial helicopter airframe. With the ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  RBS 70 missile

  The RBS 70 missile was produced to meet the requirements of the Swedish Army's short-range air defence needs. The missile is unique in being the ...

• Light UGVs

  T7

  The T7 is a multi-mission robotic system designed for military, police and hazardous missions. At DSEI 2017, the UK MoD awarded the Harris Corporation a ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Ezuwgu

  The Ezuwgu is an MRAP 4x4 APC designed and produced by the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON). 

• Land: air defence radar, Land: indirect fire location radar

  AN/TPQ-50

  The AN/TPQ-50 is a lightweight, L-Band counterfire radar that performs early warning for indirect fire, target acquisition, and air surveillance modes. Part of SRC’s Lightweight ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  BTR-82AT

  The BTR-82AT is an upgraded version of the BTR-82A and BTR-82AM 8x8 IFVs developed for the Russian Army. Introduced in 2019, it features a new, ...