• Defence Notes

  US Congress approves FY2024 defence spending bill

  18th December 2023

  The US House of Representatives and Senate agreed to a $841.4 billion funding to cover DoD activities in the current fiscal year.

• Land Warfare

  Panther MBT moves closer to production with $316 million development contract

  15th December 2023

  Rheinmetall unveiled the KF51 Panther at Eurosatory 2022. The MBT will use Leopard 2 components in its bare chassis, but will feature a new turret and the Rheinmetall 130mm L/52 smoothbore gun.

• Air Warfare

  Is Turkey’s potential return to the F-35 programme aligned with evolving defence priorities?

  7th February 2024

  While the US remained open to Turkey’s potential reintegration into the F-35 programme, recent developments suggest the possibility that Turkey’s evolving strategic priorities and indigenous defence initiatives may question the necessity of the F-35.

• Air Warfare

  Sky high diplomacy: Saudi Arabia's fighter jet puzzle entangles Eurofighter, Rafale and global alliances

  16th January 2024

  Saudi Arabia faces a juncture in aerial diplomacy as Germany's approval of a potential Eurofighter Typhoon deal introduces fresh possibilities and uncertainties, prompting the kingdom to weigh the Eurofighter against the appealing alternative of the Dassault Rafale.

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2023: Varjo launches XR-4 mixed-reality headsets

  28th November 2023

  The new Varjo XR-4 mixed-reality headset, unveiled at I/ITSEC in Florida, provides what its developer termed 'higher image quality' and it can be used in offline secure training environments.

• Defence Notes

  Pentagon will run out of funds to support Ukraine over the coming week

  10th November 2023

  The US Department of Defense has implored Congress to approve the national security supplemental request in order to continue to meet Kyiv's battlefield needs.

• Air Warfare

  US approves South Korean US$52.1 million Sidewinder missiles deal

  16th November 2023

  Raytheon Missiles and Defense will provide dozens of AIM-9X Sidewinder Tactical and Training Missiles for the South Korean military.

• Defence Notes

  I/ITSEC 2023: Vrgineers launches new mixed-reality headset

  23rd November 2023

  Mixed reality technology is gaining momentum in the simulation industry – especially in pilot training environment – and has been expected to surpass the usage of standard projection-based simulators.

• Air Warfare

  South Korea and Boeing to jointly research long-endurance aerial UAVs

  24th November 2023

  Boeing and South Korea have solidified plans that would see Boeing UAV design and technology capabilities implemented locally by South Korean companies.

• Air Warfare

  Canada orders 14 Poseidon P-8A maritime patrol aircraft

  1st December 2023

  Canada will purchase 14 Boeing P-8A Poseidon multi-mission aircraft to replace its ageing CP-140 Aurora fleet, joining Australia, New Zealand, US and UK as an operator of the aircraft type.

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2023: US Army to double combined SOF, space, cyber experimentations in 2024

  13th October 2023

  The service conducted seven collective field exchanges this year but has now planned to hold more than 14 events next year.

• Air Warfare

  Poland receives first two AW149 helicopters

  31st October 2023

  This acquisition was the result of a signed US$2 billion contract for 32 AW149 helicopters announced in mid-June 2022.

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2023: Barco expands F400 series with new projector

  30th November 2023

  The F400-N4K has been designed to offer laser projection and high-speed processing with 4K UHD resolution.

• Air Warfare

  TAI delivers first Nigerian T-129 Atak helicopters

  7th November 2023

  The delivery of the first two T129 attack helicopters has marked a milestone in a deal announced during the 2022 Farnborough Air Show between Nigeria and Turkish Aerospace Industries.

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2023: US Army switches training focus to cyber and EW

  28th November 2023

  The service will pay greater attention to the development of intelligence, cyber and electronic warfare training capabilities.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Attritable Multirotor First Person View (AM-FPV) [US]

  Background SOF Week 2025 Speaking to Shephard at Special Operations Forces (SOF) Week 2025, Performance Drone Work's (PDW) CEO Ryan Gury, stated that the Attritable Multirotor First Person View (AM-FPV) was ...

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

  Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) [USAFR & ANG]

  Background USAFR & ANG In October 2025, Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach, a nominee to be the USAF’s next chief of staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee during his ...

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

  Purpose Built Attritable System (PBAS) [US]

  Backrgound Requirments The Purpose Built Attritable System (PBAS) are intended to be commercially available, reconfigurable, and disposable. They will primarily be utilised for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance ...

• Loitering munitions

  Maritime Launched Effects (MLE) [US]

  Background Origin & Requirment The loitering munition effort dates back to at least 2018 and was previously called Maritime Precision Engagement (MPE). The US Special Operations ...

• LTTV

  Programme Background The LTTV is to equip the combat support and combat service support elements of the Belgian SOF and the Belgian Army's two Ranger ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  NH90 Special Forces [France]

  Programme Background In French service, advanced H225M Caracals with aerial refuelling capabilities are used by SOF units of the French Air Force (FAF) and French ...

• Pegaz Special Operations Vehicles

  Programme BackgroundRequirementThe Polish MoD has a long-standing requirement to procure a new 4x4 tactical vehicle to replace the M1165A1 HMMWVs and Oshkosh M-ATVs currently in ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  SOF Vehicles (Bulgaria)

  Programme Background The Bulgarian MoD is investing in the modernisation of the Bulgarian Armed Forces by procuring new equipment for all of its branches, including ...

• Zmag SOF Vehicle (Israel)

  Programme Background Originally designed by and marketed by Ido Cohen, the Zmag is part of a family of ATVs aimed at both civilian and military customers. In ...

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

  Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) (Increment 2) [USAF]

  Background Requirements The baseline requirements for Increment 2 of the CCA effort are similar to Increment 1, which is covered in a separate entry on Defence ...

• SOV-Cdo Replacement (Australia)

  Programme Background The Australian MoD plans to invest in new equipment for its SOF units to allow the ADF to respond more effectively and more ...

• Zmag SOF Vehicle (Batch 2) [Israel]

  Programme Background Originally designed by and marketed by Ido Cohen, the Zmag is part of a family of ATVs aimed at both civilian and military customers. In ...

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

  Multidomian Micro Drones [USSOCOM]

  Background Special Notice On 14 November 2024, a Special Notice was released that informed the industry that the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) was looking for ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Wolf 2 [Germany]

  Programme Background The Wolf 2 was designed by Mercedes-Benz to replace the German Bundeswehr's ageing fleet of Wolf utility vehicles. The Bundeswehr is currently replacing its ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | F-35A (Add-On) [Germany]

  The German newspaper Spiegel published a report in October 2025 citing a confidential report submitted to the Bundestag requesting approval for the procurement of an additional 15 ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Attritable Multirotor First Person View (AM-FPV)

  Unveiled in May 2025, the Attritable Multirotor First Person View (AM-FPV) is a low-cost, rapidly deployable platform for strike and ISR missions, inspired by battlefield lessons from ...

• Loitering munitions

  Red Dragon

  The Red Dragon is a loitering munition from AeroVironment. According to the company, it is designed for one-way attack missions in high-threat, GPS-denied and communications-degraded environments. Unveiled in ...

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

  Reliant

  The Reliant is a Quantum Systems VTOL-capable fixed-wing drone unveiled at the Special Operations Forces (SOF) Week Exhibition 2024. The hybrid drone is due to ...

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

  Razor P100

  The Razor, or Razor P100, is a jet-powered fixed-wing, VTOL-capable UAV from Mayman Aerospace. Unveiled in May 2024 at Special Operations Forces (SOF) Week, the ...

• Loitering munitions

  Hellhound S3

  The Hellhound S3 is a loitering munition from Cummings Aerospace. It is man-portable, turbojet-powered and is constructed using 3D printing technology.  The S3 variant is aimed at the US ...

• Loitering munitions

  Jackal

  The Jackal is a turbojet loitering munition designed by Northrop Grumman in partnership with AeroVironment.  It features an open architecture that provides the capability to support ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Thunder TM-1025

  The SOF Thunder comprises one variant in a wider family of TM-1025 RIBs currently in service with the Polish armed forces. The SOF Thunder is ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  VOS-APP

  The Arquus VOS-APP is a 6x6 support vehicle currently under trial with the French SOF. Acting as a replacement for the 1970s-vintage ACMAT VLRA, the VOS-APP is the ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  ZH-753

  The Zodiac Hurricane 753 OB SAR is typically used as a shore-based boat operating independently in SAR, counterterrorism and law enforcement missions. The deep-V fibreglass ...

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

  Kaori-X

  The KUS-FC, also known as the Kaori-X, was a stealthy UCAV in joint development by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and the Korean Air Aerospace Division ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Ares 35 Harpoon

  The Ares 35 Harpoon has been designed for interception & interdiction operations, as well as anti-smuggling, SOF insertion and extraction, surveillance and patrolling missions.

• MPVs - 4x4

  Matador 4x4 APC

  The Matador 4x4 vehicle can be configured as an APC or a light infantry combat vehicle, with the addition of weaponry. It is designed to ...

• Swimmer delivery vehicles

  Shallow Water Combat Submersible (SWCS)​

  The USN has contracted Teledyne Brown to develop the Shallow Water Combat Submersible (SWCS) as part of a wider effort to develop new underwater transports for ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Ares 55 Harpoon

  The Ares 55 Harpoon is a fast interceptor craft by Ares Shipyard for interception & interdiction operations, as well as anti-smuggling, SOF insertion and extraction, ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Ares 65 Harpoon

  The Ares 65 Harpoon is a fast interceptor craft by Ares Shipyard for interception & interdiction operations, as well as anti-smuggling, SOF insertion and extraction, surveillance and ...