• Uncrewed Vehicles

  SideArm launches, retrieves UAS

  8th February 2017

  DARPA's SideArm research effort has reached a new milestone, with Aurora Flight Sciences successfully testing a full-scale technology demonstration system capable of meeting project requirements.The …

• Naval Warfare

  Euromaritime 2017: Sirehna showcases surveillance capabilities

  2nd February 2017

  Sirehna is continuing the testing and demonstration programme for its maritime surveillance system and unmanned surface vessel (USV) applique kit, with dates already placed for …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Teledyne releases new module for Gavia

  25th January 2017

  Teledyne Gavia has released a new module that integrates Klein Marine Systems' UUV-3500 high-resolution side scan sonar with a bathymetry sonar, the company announced on …

• Digital Battlespace

  DARPA unveils SHARE programme

  16th January 2017

  The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has launched its Secure Handhelds on Assured Resilient networks at the tactical Edge (SHARE) programme, which aims to …

• Digital Battlespace

  Sikorsky signs for ALIAS Phase 3

  13th January 2017

  Sikorsky has received a contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for Phase 3 of the Aircrew Labor In-Cockpit Automation System (ALIAS) programme, …

• Defence Notes

  Surface Navy: Lockheed Martin highlights LRASM growth

  12th January 2017

  Lockheed Martin has moved to highlight the expanded applications of its Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) at this week’s Surface Navy Association National Symposium. The …

• Naval Warfare

  Surface Navy: US Navy looks to enhanced laser weapons

  11th January 2017

  The US Navy is hoping to accelerate the introduction of new laser weapon systems aboard its surface fleet. The rough plan for the introduction was …

• Naval Warfare

  UDT Asia: China to upgrade undersea sensors

  11th January 2017

  China is believed to be expanding an underwater sensor network, which was established beginning from October 2014, in the Western Pacific to better suit its …

• Digital Battlespace

  DARPA’S TUNA readying for sea demo

  10th January 2017

  The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) announced on 5 January that it has completed the first phase of its Tactical Undersea Network Architecture (TUNA) …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Vanilla Aircraft UAV sets record

  9th January 2017

  The VA001 UAS has set a long-endurance record for combustion-powered UAS in the 50-500kg (Group 1) class, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) announced …

• Defence Helicopter

  The year ahead: The Asia-Pacific region

  5th January 2017

  Within the Asia-Pacific region the year just passed was pretty much dominated by the machinations of one country – China – and there is little …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  US Navy wants Autonomy in a Box

  28th December 2016

  The Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) has developed a new ‘Autonomy in a Box’ system designed to dramatically reduce the level …

• Digital Battlespace

  Vencore Labs announces DARPA contract

  21st December 2016

  Vencore will work on the third and final phase of the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA’s) Wireless Network Defense (WND) programme under a …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  China seizes, returns USN glider

  20th December 2016

  On 20 December China quietly returned the US Navy's UUV that it had brazenly seized five days earlier in the South China Sea. The platform …

• Digital Battlespace

  DARPA awards cyber contracts to Raytheon

  8th December 2016

  Raytheon will work on developing technologies to tackle cyber attacks on US power grid infrastructure under a contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

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

  AdvaNced airCraft Infrastructure-Less Launch And RecoverY (ANCILLARY) [US]

  Background Aims & Timeline As stated by DARPA, the ANCILLARY programme aims to develop and fly an X-plane that will provide a “leap-ahead” in long-endurance, VTOL-capable ...

• Military - UUVs

  Lionfish UUV [USN]

  Background Timeline In 2023, Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) was awarded an initial $19 million contract for the US Navy's Lionfish UUV programme. Its REMUS 300 ...

• Military - UUVs

  SeaCat (1-4) [Germany]

  Background Requirements The SeaCat UUVs will operate from the Frankenthal-class minehunters, supporting MCM operations. The UUV has a modular nose which allows for a quick change ...

• Military - UUVs

  Autonomous Ocean Drone [Sweden]

  Programme Background Requirements Saab is delivering a Large Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (LUUV) currently named the Autonomous Ocean Drone AOD) to the Swedish Navy. It is designed to employ underwater ...

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - small

  Containerized Autonomous Drone Delivery System (CADDS) (Group 1-3) [US]

  Background Concept In early February 2026, the Defence Innovation Unit (DIU) stated that it required the ability to rapidly deploy large quantities of UAS while minimising the ...

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

  LongShot [USA]

  Background Requirement As explained by GA-ASI in February 2026, LongShot is envisaged as an air-launched UAV that will fly from larger, mostly crewed aircraft and ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Penetrating Counter Air (PCA) [USA]

  Background Requirement Originally conceived as a replacement for the F-22, the PCA was designed to counter various air threats, including integrated air defence systems and ...

• Military - UUVs

  XLUUV [USN]

  Background Requirements According to the FY27-FY31 shipbuilding plan, the XLUUVs will be “pier-launched vessels with a modular design that can accommodate a variety of payloads”. They ...

• Military - UUVs

  XLUUV [France]

  Background In January 2024, Naval Group announced it was developing an XLUUV demonstrator to serve as a technology and payload integrator. This is similar to ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Arctic Security Cutters (7-11) [USCG]

  Background Requirements The Arctic Security Cutter (ASC) programme aims to increase the US presence and capability in the Arctic to counter Russian and Chinese influence ...

• AEW&C

  AEW&C Aircraft [South Korea]

  Programme Background Requirement The requirement was initially reported in 2016 when it was noted as being part of a long-term development plan, however, reports from ...

• Corvettes

  Continental Defence Corvette [Canada]

  Background Initial requirements Under the second pillar of its shipbuilding strategy, Canada is seeking to procure an undisclosed number of small vessels (below 1000t). Part ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military - UUVs

  Manta Ray

  Manta Ray is an uncrewed underwater vessel (UUV) developed by Northrop Grumman.

• Military UAS - tactical

  XRQ-73

  The US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) unveiled the flying design of the XRQ-73 in June 2024. The XRQ-73 designation places this aircraft in the experimental ...

• Military - UUVs

  Bluefin-Knifefish

  The Bluefin-Knifefish UUV was initially developed for the Surface Mine Countermeasure UUV (SMCM UUV) programme for the USN’s Littoral Combat Ships. It is manufactured by General Dynamics ...

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

  X-68A

  The X-68A is a developmental, host-platform-agnostic air-launched effect (ALE). After developmental contracts were first awarded in 2021 under the LongShot programme, General Atomics (GA-ASI) emerged as the preferred supplier ...

• Sea: procedural training

  UUV Training Simulator

  The Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) Training Simulator teaches users how to operate and control a UUV, specifically with reference to mine hunting. The UUV is ...

• Military - USVs

  NOMARS

  The No Manning Required Ship (NOMARS) is a US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) effort to develop a first-of-its-kind large uncrewed surface vessel.

• Sea: procedural training

  2 Sigma Digital Tutor

  A Digital Tutor that is designed to outperform schoolhouse instructors, bringing CTC training to a broad spectrum of sailors. Specifications include improving student outcomes for ...

• Major networking projects

  CHAIN

  The Compartmented High Assurance Information Network (CHAIN) is described as a robust architecture that improves interoperability of IT systems among the military services and security ...

• Tiltrotors, Military UAS - fixed-wing

  X-76

  The X-76 is an operational crewed aircraft designed to combine the flexibility of a helicopter with the speed of a fixed-wing aircraft.  Bell Textron is ...

• Military - UUVs

  Remus 300

  The Remus 300 is a variant in the Remus UUV family, produced by Huntington Ingalls Industries. The vessel is designed for Mine Counter Measure (MCM) ...

• Military - UUVs

  BlueWhale

  BlueWhale (ELI-3325) is an autonomous uncrewed underwater vessel (UUV) developed by Israel's Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). It is designed for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Mine Countermeasures (MCM) and ...

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

  XV-24A LightningStrike

  The XV-24A LightningStrike, developed by Aurora Flight Sciences and its partners Rolls-Royce and Honeywell, was a project for a tilt-wing UAV powered by an electric-distributed ...

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

  Shrike

  The Shrike was a micro, portable, rugged VTOL-capable UAV designed for frontline day/night ISR.  Development of the Shrike began in 2008 under a $4.6-million contract from ...

• Sea: sonar systems

  UUV-3500

  The Klein UUV-3500 side-scan sonar family is composed of the mid-depth (3000m) high-resolution, low-power, dual-frequency and the deep (6000m) variant which is a higher power ...

• Military - UUVs

  D19 UUV

  Naval Group's family of D19 drones are AUVs designated for varying taskings such as identification, surveillance, EW, mobile target, minelaying and MCM operations.