• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Thales Fulmar X for Spain ISR

  18th June 2018

  Thales has received two contracts from the Spanish Directorate-General for Armament and Material (DGAM) to provide ISR capabilities to the Spanish Navy and Army. Thales’ …

• Digital Battlespace

  Farnborough 2018: What could replace the UK’s AWACS?

  10th July 2018

  One of the key talking points at this year’s Farnborough air show will be the Royal Air Force’s growing desire to replace its ageing E-3D …

• Naval Warfare

  UDT 2018: US Mk 48 torpedo upgrade in sight

  20th June 2018

  A contract award for a technological insertion upgrade into the US Navy’s Mk 48 heavyweight torpedo is imminent. Defence sources have told Shephard that an …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Germany agrees to lease Israeli-made UAS

  14th June 2018

  Germany has agreed a nine year deal worth over half a billion dollars to lease Israeli military reconnaissance UAS capable of carrying missiles, the aircraft's …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Bridger receives on-call UAS contract

  12th June 2018

  Bridger Aerospace has received a contract from the US Department of Interior (DOI) to supply unmanned service support for wildland fire management on a 'call …

• Special Operations

  Tri-national Special Forces Command announced

  13th June 2018

  Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands are to create a tri-national Special Forces Command. The command will be established under a Memorandum of Understanding signed between …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  IAI develops hybrid robotic system

  14th June 2018

  Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has developed a hybrid ground and air robotic system that combines both land and aerial capabilities, the company announced on 10 …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  IAI, Airbus sign Heron TP agreement

  19th June 2018

  Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has signed an agreement with Airbus to lease the Heron TP UAS to Germany’s Federal Ministry of Defence, the company announced …

• Military Logistics

  Eurosatory 2018: New logistics solutions on show

  18th June 2018

  Logistics specialists WEW and GOFA launched new products for fuel and water logistics at Eurosatory, with the companies anticipating significant growth in the market in …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Airbus, Wilhelmsen team for Skyways project

  11th June 2018

  Airbus and Wilhelmsen Ships Service have entered into a strategic collaboration to develop UAS and related services for maritime parcel deliveries, Airbus announced on 5 …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Eurosatory 2018: Integration effort for Skylock counter-UAS system

  11th June 2018

  The growth in counter-UAS systems has followed an increase in the availability of inexpensive consumer or commercial platforms that pose security threats for industrial facilities, …

• Digital Battlespace

  EW Europe 2018: Saab to fly jamming pod by 2020

  7th June 2018

  Swedish company Saab has said it will begin flight tests for a new jamming pod by the beginning of next decade, as it eyes a …

• Digital Battlespace

  Eurosatory 2018: New electromagnetic pulse warhead proposed to defeat APS

  14th June 2018

  The proliferation of active protection systems (APS) on armoured vehicles is one of the major challenges armies face on the battlefield today, with the technology …

• Digital Battlespace

  Eurosatory 2018: Hensoldt begins serial production of new AESA radar

  13th June 2018

  Hensoldt has begun serial production of its new software-defined AESA land-based air defence radar, the TRML-4D after receiving an initial order for ten units from …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  DDC to participate in Canada’s BVLOS project

  8th June 2018

  Drone Delivery Canada (DDC) has been selected by Transport Canada to participate in its Beyond Visual Line-of-Sight (BVLOS) pilot project, the company announced 1 June. …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - small

  Medium Range Reconnaissance (MRR) / Rucksack Portable UAS (RPUAS) [USA]

  Background The Rucksack Portable UAS (RPUAS) programme The RPUAS programme will provide the battalion and below-ground manoeuvre elements within the US Army with an organic, ...

• Military UAS - mini

  U&C reconnaissance drones [US Army]

  Methodology PGO The programme has been assigned a PGO of 100%, as a contract has been awarded. Unit cost It has not been clarified what ...

• Transport

  C-27J [Azerbaijan]

  Programme Background The Azerbaijani Air Force signed a contract with Leonardo in June 2023 to procure the C-27J Spartan tactical transport aircraft. This move is ...

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

  Mini Reconnaissance Drones [Lithuania]

  Programme Background Planned Purchases On 14 September 2022, the Lithuanian MoD announced in a short statement on Twitter, now X, that it had begun organising ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  ISTAR UAS project [Canada]

  Programme Background Objective The Royal Canadian Navy's (RCN) main significant UAV project is the RCN Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance Unmanned Aircraft System (RCN ...

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

  Small Reconnaissance Drones [Lithuania]

  Programme Background Planned Purchases On 14 September 2022, the Lithuanian MoD announced in a short statement on Twitter, now X, that it had begun organising ...

• Frigates

  European Combat Vessel [Spain]

  Programme Background Requirements The European Combat Vessel (ECV) is currently a conceptual project that seeks to design a European collaborative multi-mission, modular warship. As of ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• Data links

  Data links | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• OPVs

  Harry DeWolf Class (AOPS) Coast Guard (7-8) [Canada]

  Background Requirements The new vessels will replace the CCGS Leonard J Cowley, an ice-strengthened fisheries patrol vessel that entered service in 1984 and CCGS Cygnus, a ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A400M [Germany]

  Programme Background Germany originally said it would but 60 A400Ms, but when the program was re-baselined in 2010 reduced its planed off take to 53, ...

• Destroyers

  Next-Generation Large Surface Combatants (LSC) - DDG(X) [USN]

  Programme Background Requirements The US Navy (USN) is acknowledging a need to move away from the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer design, which is slowly outgrowing. Flight III ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Counter-UAS systems

  MEHEL 2.0

  The Mobile Expeditionary High-Energy Laser (MEHEL) is a C-UAS-capable vehicle that employs directed energy to neutralise targets. MEHEL 2.0 was first seen at AUSA 2016, ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Fractl:2

  Fractl:2, developed and manufactured by AIM Defence, is an Australian laser directed energy weapon (LDEW). The high-powered portable system is Australia's first acquisition of a directed ...

• Counter-UAS systems

  DroneDefender

  DroneDefender is a directed-energy UAS countermeasure that disrupts the adversary's control of the aircraft, neutralising it so that no remote action (including detonation) can occur, ...

• Counter-UAS systems, Land: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  EJDERHA HPEM System

  The EJDERHA is a high power electromagnetic system manufactured by Aselsan. It generates high-amplitude electromagnetic fields and directs them to potential targets such as IEDs ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Apollo

  Apollo is a High-Energy Laser Weapon System manufactured by Electro Optic Systems (EOS). Apollo's laser utilises directed energy to disable or destroy aerial targets without ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  SCATA Mk1

  The SCATA Mk1 is the first military vehicle developed by Finland's SCATA.

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Locust

  BlueHalo's Locust is a laser weapon system. The system delivers a complete kill chain, providing a layered and broadband detection capability that is coupled with electronic ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Minotaur

  Minotaur, developed by Soukos Robots, is a Greek laser directed energy weapon (LDEW). Minotaur is an anti-drone platform with the ability to shoot down unmanned ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons, Self-propelled guns, Self-propelled missile systems

  SkyRanger 30

  SkyRanger 30 is a mobile ground-based air defence (GBAD) laser directed energy weapon (LDEW) system designed by Rheinmetall. The system comprises automatic cannons, guided missiles, and a ...

• OPVs

  PPA/MultiPurpose Combat Ship (MPCS) EVO

  The PPA/MultiPurpose Combat Ship (MPCS) EVO is an enhanced version of the Thaon di Revel-class PPAs unveiled at Euronaval 2024. The PPA/MPCS EVO retains the core platform ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  CROSSBOW MINI

  CROSSBOW MINI, developed by IPG Photonics, is a laser-directed energy weapon (LDEW). The LDEW has multiple deployable configurations and is a part of the manufacturers ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  DIAL

  The Laser Weapon Instrumental Demonstrator (DIAL), in joint development with Indra and Escribano Mechanical Engineering, is a Spanish laser directed energy weapon (LDEW). The system ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Archimedes

  Archimedes, developed by Aurelius Systems, is a laser-directed energy weapon designed to stop drones at scale. The system is still in development, though Aurelius received ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  ALKA-KAPLAN

  ALKA-KAPLAN is a collaborative effort between Turkish manufacturers ROKETSAN and FNSS. The system is a mobile armoured anti-drone system, which integrates the ALKA directed energy-weapon ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Italian LDEW (Leonardo/MBDA)

  As announced in December 2024, Leonardo and MBDA are collaborating to produce a Fire Unit Laser Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW) for the Italian Navy. The ...