• Digital Battlespace

  Lockheed Martin nears completion of LRDR

  10th March 2020

  Lockheed Martin has delivered ten antenna panels for its Long Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR) to a site in Clear, Alaska. The system will be used …

• Air Warfare

  US Congress notified of FMS for eight KC-46s to Israel

  4th March 2020

  The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has notified the US Congress of a potential FMS deal with Israel. The contract would see up to eight …

• Training

  Project Selborne decision expected in May

  11th March 2020

  The UK RN is currently in a ‘competitive dialogue phase’ with bidders for its Project Selborne training programme and is now ‘approaching final tenders in …

• Land Warfare

  Boeing to support development of Saudi SLAM-ER

  13th March 2020

  Boeing has secured an $8 million contract modification to continue with first-phase design, maturity, analysis and test planning for Stand-Off Land Attack Missile Expanded Response …

• Naval Warfare

  MBDA succeeds in first trial firing of Sea Venom

  6th March 2020

  MBDA has carried out its first qualification firing trial for the Sea Venom/ANL anti-ship missile. The test was carried out at the DGA Essais de …

• Defence Notes

  Taiwan, an island nation under siege

  20th March 2020

  Few countries are more bullied or ostracised than Taiwan. Whether it is militarily, diplomatically or internationally, China has successfully forced Taiwan into the far-flung outer …

• Naval Warfare

  Russian Navy to get additional Project 22350 frigates

  12th March 2020

  United Shipbuilding Corporation’s Severnaya Shipyard is to build an additional unspecified number of Project 22350 frigates for the Russian Navy, according to Deputy Defence Minister …

• Digital Battlespace

  Leonardo to upgrade Italian land and naval IFF systems

  5th March 2020

  Leonardo will provide new-generation IFF (NGIFF) systems to land and naval platforms operated by the Italian Armed Forces, to bring them to a Mode 5 …

• Naval Warfare

  Russia keeps calm and carries on

  13th March 2020

  Russia has conducted a number of large scale live-fire exercises in recent weeks, in stark contrast to Western militaries that have downsized or cancelled their …

• Training

  DCTT technology refresh for HMS Sultan

  10th March 2020

  The UK’s Defence College of Technical Training (DCTT) is updating the e-learning capabilities at HMS Sultan. The £6 million ($7.9 million) programme is providing a …

• Naval Warfare

  Nanuchka III-class corvettes to gain new lease of life

  21st February 2020

  The Russian Navy is set to upgrade three more Project 12341 (Nanuchka III-class) missile corvettes in an effort to boost the offensive capabilities of its …

• Naval Warfare

  Netherlands seeks MK-48 Mod 7 conversion kits

  27th February 2020

  The US State Department has made a determination approving a possible foreign military sale to the Netherlands of MK-48 Mod 7 Advanced Technology (AT) torpedo …

• Digital Battlespace

  Lockheed to develop protected SATCOM for US Space Force

  10th March 2020

  Lockheed Martin was awarded a $240 million contract to develop and produce a prototype payload for its Protected Tactical SATCOM (PTS) system. PTS will use …

• Air Warfare

  Elbit Systems of America secures F-16 sustainment work

  6th March 2020

  Elbit Systems of America has been awarded a firm-fixed-price contract by the US Air Force Life Cycle Management Centre worth $471.63 million. The contract was …

• Land Warfare

  Russia receives first S-350 as it explores export opportunities

  6th March 2020

  The Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) have accepted their first Almaz-Antey S-350 Vityaz surface-to-air missile (SAM) system. The initial unit was handed over on 26 February to the …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  Rafale [France]

  Programme Background Rafale F4 is the latest configuration of the Rafale fighter jet family. New functions will also be developed to improve the aircraft’s capabilities ...

• ISR/special mission

  ISTAR Aircraft (South Korea)

  Programme Background South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration stated that Seoul is planning to procure additional aircraft to minimize potential surveillance gaps amid growing security ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  MH-60R [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirement The RAN already has 24 MH-60R Seahawks (the last delivered in September 2016), so this represents a 50% increase in fleet size. ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Project Sea 129 Phase 5 [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirement Project Sea 129 Phase 5 was intended to acquire a new ISR UAS capability for the RAN. The aircraft was required to perform ...

• Landing craft and hovercraft

  Littoral Manoeuvre Vessel - Medium (Project Land 8710 Phase 1A) [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirements Australia has set out requirements for a fleet of up to 18 Littoral Manoeuvre Vessels - Medium (LMV-M) with the release of ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing

  VTOL UAV [New Zealand]

  Background Defence Capability Plan (DCP) In April 2025, the New Zealand government published the DCP, a document that is essentially a blueprint for what procurements ...

• ISR/special mission

  E-6 TACAMO Recapitalisation Programme (E-130J) [USN]

  Programme Background The E-6 Take Charge and Move Out (TACAMO) Recapitalisation Programme (E-XX) provides for air vehicle replacement and mission systems modernization to augment and eventually ...

• Loitering munitions

  Launched Effects-Short Range (LE-SR) [US]

  Background Goal The Army sees LE-SR as a family of systems consisting of an air vehicle, effects payload, mission system applications, and associated support equipment ...

• Main battle tanks

  M1A2T Abrams [Taiwain]

  Programme Background Taiwan has had a long-standing desire to attain M1A1 or M1A2 Abrams from the US in order to replace elderly M60A3 TTS and CM11 ...

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

  MQ-9A Reaper Block 5 [Italy]

  Programme Background Initial Procurement Italy submitted a $330 million FMS request through the Defence Security Cooperation Agency for four MQ-9A aircraft, four GCS and five ...

• ISR/special mission

  MC-27J [Algeria]

  Programme Background Algeria has a long standing ISR aircraft requirement to support its Beech 1900 fleet comprised of six aircraft. The new ISR fleet is ...

• Submarines nuclear, ballistic missile

  Dreadnought Class (Successor Programme) (1-4) [UK]

  Programme Background Requirements The Dreadnought-class, prior to being named in October 2016, was known as the Successor programme, which was approved by the government in May ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Runway Independent Maritime & Expeditionary Strike (RIMES) [US]

  Background Problem In February 2026, the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) posted a solicitation that outlined a problem: the growing threat posed by long-range anti-ship weapons ...

• Destroyers

  DDX Programme (1-2) [Italy]

  Programme Background Requirements Destroyers are fundamental to Italy's blue water fleet and will be required to be capable of projecting capability at sea from the ...

• 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 ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Surface-to-air missiles

  SM-2 Block IIIC/Block IIICU

  The SM-2 Block IIIC and Block IIICU are medium-range, surface-to-air missiles with active radio frequency seekers. Both missiles are modifications to legacy SM-2 Block III/IIIA/IIIB ...

• Man-portable missile systems

  FIM-92 Stinger

  The FIM-92 Stinger, passive-guided MANPADS, was developed by General Dynamics to meet the requirements of the US Army to defence against low-flying threats. It replaced ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  ESTL

  The Enhanced Survivability Technology (ESTL) is an integrated self-protection pod with missile approach warning (MAWS) manufactured by Saab. It is designed to counter RF and IR ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  SkyCeptor

  The SkyCeptor missile is a multi-mission interceptor developed collaboratively by Raytheon and Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. It is a derivative of the Stunner missile ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  SM-1MR Block VI

  The RIM-66 Standard-1MR is a medium-range surface-to-air missile that can also take on the role of an anti-ship missile. It was developed as part of ...

• Multipurpose missiles

  BGM-71 TOW

  The BGM-71 Tube-launched Optically tracked Wire-guided (TOW) missile entered US Army service in 1970. As well as being integrated on vehicles and helicopters, TOW can be ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) Block 2

  The RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) Block 2 is a short-range, ship-launched missile designed primarily to defend naval vessels against incoming anti-ship missiles and aerial ...

• Surface-to-air missiles, Surface-to-surface missiles

  RIM-174 Standard ERAM SM-6 Block I/IA

  The SM-6 (RIM-174 Standard ERAM) is a surface-to-air supersonic missile launched from cruisers and destroyers, capable of successfully engaging crewed and uncrewed, fixed- or rotary-wing ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  AN/SPY-3

  The AN/SPY-3 is a multifunction naval radar developed and manufactured by Raytheon. Its intended uses include horizon and surface search, navigation, periscope detection, discrimination, and ...

• Sea: weapon training

  SM-1 and SM-2 Standard Missile and Harpoon Missile with Guided Missile Launcher Mk 13 Mod 4 Simulator

  Textron's SM-1 and SM-2 Standard Missile and Harpoon Missile simulator simulates a guided missile launching system and guided missile launcher, Mk 13 Mod 4, in ...

• Sea: ship surveillance and fire control systems

  MK 99

  The MK 99 is a fire control system developed and produced by Raytheon.  The system works as an interface to connect a vessel's missiles and ...

• Land: air defence radar

  LTAMDS

  The Raytheon Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense System (LTAMDS) is an active electronically scanned array Gallium Nitrade (GaN) radar. The use of GaN strengthens ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) Block 2

  The Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM) Block 2 is an advanced ship-launched surface-to-air missile developed by the NATO SeaSparrow Consortium. Building upon the capabilities of its predecessor, ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming, Air: EO/IR – Jamming Systems

  Quiet Eyes

  Quiet Eyes is a laser DIRCM system, manufactured by Raytheon. The pointer/tracker turret system protects aircrafts from IR-guided missiles by jamming the missile, directing the threat away ...

• Long Range Missile Defence Systems: > 90km range

  Mk-57 VLS

  The Mk 57 Vertical Launching System (VLS), developed by Raytheon, is an advanced missile launching system designed to enhance the offensive and defensive capabilities of ...