• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AAD 2016: Mbombe 8 completes family

  15th September 2016

  Paramount Group has launched its Mbombe 8 vehicle at AAD 2016 in South Africa, it is an 8x8 variant of its Mbombe armoured vehicle range. …

• Land Warfare

  AAD 2016: Retraction action

  14th September 2016

  Land Mobility Technologies (LMT), a subsidiary of Denel Land Systems, and the Mechatronics unit of Denel Vehicle Systems have teamed to produce a retractable overhead …

• Land Warfare

  AAD 2016: Denel looks for artillery partner

  13th September 2016

  Denel is pushing ahead with the development of its 105mm LEO artillery project for the South African Army and needs and industrial partner. The company …

• Defence Notes

  Boeing increases weapon production

  13th September 2016

  The continuing conflicts in the Middle East has placed strain on manufacturing facilities used to produce air launched munitions. Weapons such as the Joint Direct …

• Land Warfare

  MSPO 2016: T-72/PT-91 upgrades proposed (video)

  13th September 2016

  Polish industry has put forward proposals that would see the army’s ageing T-72 and PT-91 ‘Twardy’ main battle tanks modernised with new weapons and equipment.  …

• Training

  Industry prepares for C-17 ATS re-bid

  13th September 2016

  In October, the US training and simulation industry is expecting to receive the request for proposal (RFP) documents for the C-17 III Globemaster aircrew training …

• Land Warfare

  MSPO 2016: Universal vehicle prototype advances

  12th September 2016

  Polish vehicle specialists OBRUM displayed its Universal Modular Tracked Platform (UMTP) prototype configured with a 30mm turret and Spike LR anti-tank missiles at this year’s MSPO …

• Land Warfare

  DVD 2016: MIV rolls forward

  12th September 2016

  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has revealed additional details regarding its proposed requirement for a Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV) at the Defence Vehicle Dynamics …

• Land Warfare

  Land Forces 2016: Nioa spreads its wings

  9th September 2016

  Artillery ammunition is looming large in the thinking of Nioa, an Australian defence company that is launching into new defence sectors to meet domestic needs. …

• Defence Helicopter

  MSPO 2016: Poland studies induction rockets

  9th September 2016

  With Poland looking at laser guided weapon technology through state-owned munitions manufacturer Mesko, Thales is hoping to steal a march on other potential international partners. …

• Digital Battlespace

  USMC orders nine more G/ATORs

  9th September 2016

  Northrop Grumman has received an order from the US Marine Corps (USMC) for another nine AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task-Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) low rate initial production (LRIP) …

• Digital Battlespace

  Denmark selects vehicle mission systems

  9th September 2016

  Leonardo-Finmeccanica and the Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation (DALO) have signed a contract that will see the company will provide vehicle mission systems for …

• Land Warfare

  MSPO 2016: Soviet equipment gets Arex treatment (video)

  8th September 2016

  While Poland might be on somewhat of a shopping spree for brand-new equipment, it's easy to forget that the country also wants to modernise much …

• Defence Helicopter

  MSPO 2016: Israeli missiles for Polish helos (video)

  8th September 2016

  Helicopter manufacturer PZL Świdnik, teaming with Israeli company Rafael, wants to increase the firepower of Polish Land Forces W-3PL Głuszec gunship with the integration of Spike …

• Land Warfare

  MSPO 2016: Rheinmetall returns for Pegasus (video)

  7th September 2016

  German manufacturer Rheinmetall is displaying its armoured multipurpose vehicle (AMPV) at MSPO in Kielce this year, as it sets its sight on a potential Polish …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Destroyers

  Type 83 Future Air Defence System (FADS) [UK]

  Programme Background Requirements The Daring-class (Type 45) consists of six ships, although the original plan was to have 12 destroyers. This was cut to eight in ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Multi-Role Strike Ship (MRSS) Programme [UK]

  Programme Background Requirements According to the UK MoD's March 2021 Defence Command Paper, entitled 'Defence in a Competitive Age', the RN will invest in six ...

• 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

  Sejong the Great Class (KDX-III) Batch 2 (1-3) [South Korea]

  Programme Background Requirements The Sejong the Great class (KDX-III) Batch 2 will consist of three improved Sejong the Great-class (KDX-III) batch 1 guided-missile destroyers, which ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Landing Platform Docks [India]

  Programme Background Requirements The LPD tender, although more akin to an LHD, specifies that the quartet of ships must be built within India, although collaboration ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  Alpha 900 [Uruguay]

  Background Acqustiion In October 2022, the Alpha 900 from Alpha Unmanned Systems was reportedly jointly purchased by the Uruguayan state energy company UTE and the ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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

  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

  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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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

  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

  German LDEW (Rheinmetall/MBDA)

  Rheinmetall and MBDA Germany's collaborative work on laser-directed energy weapon (LDEW) technology has resulted in a German laser weapon system that is close to being ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Guorong-1 Anti Drone System

  Guorong-1 is an anti-drone system developed by China. The system is jointly developed by the Chinese Electronics Technology Group (CETG), Guorong Technology, and the Chinese public ...

• 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, ...

• Destroyers

  Flight III Destroyer

  During Indo Pacific 2023, Navantia Australia unveiled a 10200t destroyer design. Dubbed as Flight III Destroyer, the Spanish shipbuilder is pitching the ship for the ...

• 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, ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  SCATA Mk1

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