• Naval Warfare

  MoD issues Type 31 contract notice

  26th February 2018

  The UK’s Type 31e project continues to move forward with a contract notice released detailing the procurement of the light frigates. The notice, issued on …

• Land Warfare

  Indian howitzer production begins

  20th February 2018

  The US Army’s Watervliet Arsenal has begun work on a $50 million order to manufacture 145 howitzer cannon systems for the Indian Army, the US …

• Defence Notes

  Top US military leader calls for BMDS space sensors

  28th February 2018

  With the US eyeing ways to bolster its Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS), the head of Strategic Command said the time has come to send …

• Defence Helicopter

  UK helo engine support wanted

  19th February 2018

  Leonardo Helicopters is seeking an engine support provider for the UK Ministry of Defence’s Merlin and Apache helicopters. Bids are being invited for the £1.1-£1.4 …

• Digital Battlespace

  Japan, China enhance recon satellite coverage

  1st March 2018

  The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries launched an optical reconnaissance satellite into orbit aboard an H-IIA launch vehicle from the Tanegashima …

• Defence Notes

  Canada to accept bid from Boeing for new fighter jets

  23rd February 2018

  Canada said on 22 February that it was allowing Boeing to submit a bid to replace the country's aging F-18 fleet, after an earlier trade …

• Digital Battlespace

  Featured: JSTARS is just the start

  2nd March 2018

  The US Air Force's expected ‘system of systems’ approach to aerial surveillance for its JSTARS follow on capability could be replicated for other replacement programmes. …

• Digital Battlespace

  Palomar receives display system contracts

  20th February 2018

  Palomar Display Products has received three contracts for the delivery of display systems for the M1 Abrams tank, M2/M3 Bradley fighting vehicle and Light Armored …

• Defence Helicopter

  Heli-Expo 2018: MD softly, softly on 6XX

  28th February 2018

  Despite an aggressive timeline for MD Helicopters' 6XX attack helicopter to be market-ready this year, certification delays have hindered this process with the aircraft now …

• Defence Notes

  State seeks massive budget cuts

  12th February 2018

  The US State Department published its budget proposal for 2019 calling for deep cuts, though Congress has already dismissed the idea as a non-starter. On …

• Defence Notes

  Pentagon prepares for a FY19 spending holiday

  12th February 2018

  With the Pentagon’s Fiscal Year 2019 budget set at $686 billion, the department has unveiled its spending priorities for next year and says it wants …

• Land Warfare

  Iraq receives first T-90 tanks from Russia

  21st February 2018

  The first batch of Russian-made T-90S/SK MBTs ordered by the Iraqi MoD have been delivered.  Images posted on social media on 15 February showed the …

• Military Logistics

  BAE Systems to modernise USS Philippine Sea

  14th February 2018

  BAE Systems has been awarded a $9.6 million contract to modernise the US Navy’s USS Philippine Sea guided-missile cruiser, the company announced on 12 February. …

• Digital Battlespace

  Spain kicks off tactical comms modernisation study

  19th February 2018

  The Spanish MoD has initiated a study to consider the future tactical communications capabilities for both the army and navy, defence sources have disclosed. According …

• Defence Notes

  UN draft calls for 'measures' over Iran missiles to Yemen

  19th February 2018

  The UN Security Council is considering a draft resolution that would condemn Iran for violating the arms embargo on Yemen and call for measures to …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• ISR/special mission

  Pegasus SIGINT Aircraft (1-3) [Germany]

  Programme Background Requirement The Pegasus (Persistent German Airborne Surveillance System) project aims to fulfil a SIGINT capability which has been missing in the German Armed ...

• Fighter - electronic warfare

  Jamming and Escort Electronic Attack Aircraft (luWES) [Germany]

  Programme Background According to earlier reports, Berlin had earlier decided to procure 15 EA-18G Growlers over the Eurofighter Typhoon ECR concept, which is expected to be ...

• ISR/special mission

  Stand-off Jammer Aircraft (luWES) [Germany]

  Programme Background These large stand-off aircraft will be equipped with various EW systems capable of operating from a safe distance from the mission target. A400M ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Tornado Replacement (F-35A) [Germany]

  Programme Background In March 2020, it emerged that the German government was considering  30 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets to replace 45 nuclear-capable Tornados, although contracts have yet ...

• 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 ...

• Patrol boats

  UNPAV - Angelo Cabrini Class

  The Angelo Cabrini class consists of two high-speed multipurpose patrol boats (UNPAV) intended for the Italian Navy special forces. The vessels were built by Intermarine, ...

• Military UAS - small

  Penguin C MIL [Latvia]

  Background Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Development Concept In 2018, the Latvian MoD signed an agreement with Latvian companies UAV Factory and Atlas Aerospace to procure UAVs ...

• 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 ...

• Amphibious assault ships

  TCG Anadolu LHD [Turkey]

  Programme Background TCG Anadolu is a Multipurpose Assault Ship (LHD) built by Sedef in Tuzla for the Turkish Navy. The vessel, which is the single ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Anka-S (Saudi Arabia)

  Programme Background Desired Procurement Saudi Arabia has reportedly been in negotiations to procure six Anka UAVs since 2013. It has not been disclosed which Anka ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  MiSu 6X6 PMPVs [Finland]

  In June 2019, Protolab announced that the first of the four PMPVs had been delivered to the FDF. According to a company spokesman, deliveries of ...

• Destroyers

  Hobart Class (Sea 4000)

  Programme Background The Hobart-class consists of three air warfare destroyers (AWDs) for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). The ships replaced the Adelaide-class frigates. Built by a ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Stryker (Batch 1) [Thailand]

  Programme Background According to reports from Thai and US media, the RTA planned to take delivery of 120 Strykers by the end of 2020. These ...

• Military UAS - small

  Nauru 1000C [Brazil]

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

• Corvettes

  Gowind 2500 (1-2) [UAE]

  Programme Background Timeline The Gowind 2500 design has proved a popular export, and variants have been ordered by four countries. Naval Group confirmed the sale of ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Naval: COMINT and ELINT systems

  SEWS-DV

  The Shipborne EW Suite (SEWS-DV) combines the C-Pearl-DV ESM and Digital Shark ECM subsystems. SEWS-DV is based on digital receivers and digital technique generators, designed ...

• Naval: COMINT and ELINT systems

  Naval RESM-CESM

  Rohde and Schwarz Radar Electronic Support Measures (RESM) and Communications Electronic Support Measures (CESM) are passive electromagnetic sensor systems. It monitors and performs direction finding ...

• Frigates

  HCX-19

  The HCX-19 concept vessel was first revealed by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) at MADEX 2019, standing for Hyundai Combatant eXperimental 2019. It was created to ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Odysseus

  The Aurora Flight Sciences Odysseus fixed-wing UAV is a solar-powered, pseudo-satellite platform, which is designed to remain on station in the stratosphere for months at ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Super Swift

  The Super Swift series by ST Engineering is designed for homeland security as a range of ultra-high speed, fast patrol boats first revealed in May ...

• Naval guns

  Gökdeniz

  Gökdeniz, also known as Korkut-D, is a 35mm Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) developed by Turkish Aselsan. It was unveiled for the first time at IDEF ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Aselsan 9681 V/UHF

  Aselsan 9681 V/UHF is a software-defined radio with frequency hopping and encryption capabilities. Designed for air platforms, it has been in service with the Turkish ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  Piccolo Elite

  Produced by Collins Aerospace, the Piccolo Elite is an autopilot architecture solution for advanced UAS applications. Unveiled in 2019, it is provided in five configurations ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  ADVENT

  Havelsan ADVENT is a naval combat management system (CMS) that focuses on fleet-wide communications, building on Havelsan's previous experience providing CMS capability to surface vessels. ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Su-57

  The Su-57, previously known also as the T-50, is a fifth-generation single-seat stealth multirole fighter developed under the Russian PAK FA (Future Air Complex for ...

• Directed energy weapons

  Megawatt-Scale LDEW (nLIGHT)

  nLIGHT's megawatt-scale laser weapon is currently under development as a part of the United States High Energy Laser Scaling Initiative (HELSI). The high-energy laser (HEL) has ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Bell 412EPX

  The Bell 412EPX is a utility helicopter manufactured by Subaru. This platform improves upon the UH-1J/412-series helicopters. It has enhanced safety, performance, visibility, maintainability and ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Ajban 447A

  The Ajban 447A is a seven-crew military tactical vehicle featuring a configurable armoured cabin designed for different missions, including tactical response, border patrol, reconnaissance, COIN ...

• Military UAS - HALE

  GJ-11 Sharp Sword

  The Hongdu Aviation Industry Group (HAIG) developed the GJ-11 Sharp Sword, a stealth reconnaissance and strike UAS.  First displayed during an October 2019 parade, evidence ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  CMS (Vikrant-Class)

  The Combat Management System abroad INS Vikrant is developed by TATA Power's Strategic Engineering Division, the Indian MoD's Weapon and Electonic System Engineering Establishment and ...