• Naval Warfare

  Australia’s new frigate options: No easy choices as pressure mounts on DoD

  16th April 2024

  A new class of General Purpose ‘Tier 2’ frigate will replace the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN’s) Anzac-class frigates, but the selected design options appear to have major issues in terms of compatibility and availability for the future fleet.

• Training

  DSEI 2023: Boeing and Red 6 partnership first to achieve successful AR integration on aircraft

  14th September 2023

  The partnership between Boeing and Red 6 has resulted in the successful flight testing of AR technology in a TA-4JA tactical aircraft, with plans to extend testing to the T-7 Red Hawk advanced trainer.

• Air Warfare

  Turkey eyes up Eurofighter purchase amid German blockade concerns

  16th November 2023

  Turkey has once more expressed interest in purchasing Eurofighter Typhoon jets, but a potential German arms embargo looms, as tensions rise over arms export constraints.

• Defence Notes

  India’s Defence Acquisition Council green lights $26.8 billion in spending

  4th December 2023

  India’s Defence Acquisition Council has unveiled a list of equipment needs and has stipulated that 98% of the contract value must be spent domestically. It added that 50% of the indigenous content should be in the form of material, components and software made in India.

• Naval Warfare

  Fincantieri launches sixth Multipurpose Offshore Patrol ship for Italian Navy

  9th October 2023

  Fincantieri successfully launched the sixth Multipurpose Offshore Patrol ship (Pattugliatori Polivalenti d'Altura - PPA) Ruggiero di Lauria on 6 October, part of a class which will substantially enhance the operational capabilities of the Italian Navy.

• Defence Notes

  Patria to deliver Hawk trainer jet full mission simulator to Finnish Defence Forces

  27th September 2023

  Patria has signed a procurement contract with the Finnish Defence Forces to provide a Hawk Full Mission Simulator (FMS) for pilot training, boosting the realistic and extensive training capabilities of the Finnish Air Force.

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2023: Hanwha K9 Thunder becomes ‘best-selling’ 155mm SP artillery system

  18th October 2023

  Hanwha’s K9 Thunder customers are considering upgrading their equipment to the K9A2 following the South Korean Army’s example.

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2023: US military to progress ‘aggressively’ with the development of C-sUAS solutions

  12th October 2023

  The Pentagon plans to accelerate its development and field efforts as well as improve soldiers’ training to operate the new solutions.

• Digital Battlespace

  NATO selects companies for innovation hub

  13th December 2023

  NATO launched it DIANA programme in 2021 to provide a network of technology test centres and accelerator sites that harness civilian innovation within the defence industry.

• Defence Notes

  Sweden to commit AMRAAM missiles to Ukraine with 13th support package

  16th August 2023

  Sweden has announced its 13th support package to Ukraine, including ammunition, spare parts, transport vehicles, missiles and mine clearance equipment as part of an effort to provide significant military backing in response to Russia's invasion.

• Land Warfare

  How high-frequency electronics can boost EW effects for ground forces

  27th October 2023

  Solutions that operate in the high-frequency (HF) spectrum have the potential to enhance many systems and subsystems in the intelligence, radar, detection, target engagement, navigation and communications fields.

• Naval Warfare

  AUSA 2023: Steadicopter aims to fly high with new rotary UAVs

  19th October 2023

  Israeli manufacturer Steadicopter presented its new Black Eagle and Golden Eagle rotary unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for the first time in the US at AUSA. Shephard spoke with Steadicopter CEO Itai Toren about what makes these Eagles different from other birds in the market.

• Air Warfare

  UK's New Medium Helicopter programme faces further uncertainty due to potential Airbus H145 procurement

  13th December 2023

  The UK MoD’s decision to potentially purchase six H145 helicopters for specific operational requirements in Brunei and Cyprus has sparked uncertainty about the much anticipated New Medium Helicopter programme.

• Training

  Team Fisher achieves final milestone in Royal Navy training contract

  3rd October 2023

  Team Fisher, the Capita-led consortium overseeing the Royal Navy’s data and technology-focused training transformation programme Selborne, has completed the final milestone outlined in its original contract to expedite frontline personnel training.

• Training

  Quantum3D introduces latest platform support for flight simulator

  18th August 2023

  Quantum3D has launched the latest iteration of its mixed reality (MR) flight simulator solution featuring motion platform, seamless calibration and alignment wizard.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Tanks

  Hungary Leopard 2A4 MBT

  Programme Background The Hungarian Army is in desperate need of new NATO-standard military equipment to replace its ageing Soviet platforms. Approximately 80 T-72M1 MBTs are ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Secure Personnel Transport Vehicle [Colombia - Announced]

  Programme Background Colombia is understood to have a requirement for as many as 100 APCs capable of carrying up to 20 troops and protecting their ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  Hürkuş-C Advanced Armed Trainer (Turkey)

  The Hurjet-C development programme funding was included in the Hurkus-B procurement contract awarded by  the Turkish Undersecretariat for Defence Industries in December 2013.  The Hurjet will ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  IAR-99 Replacement (Romania)

  On 29 August 2017, Leonardo announced that the IAR-99 trainer technology demonstrator (TD) will be fitted with company's Vixen 500E AESA radar. The Vixen 500E AESA ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Sherpa Light [Kuwait]

  Programme Background According to data compiled by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the first 150 Sherpa Lights from this contract were delivered to ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Secure Personnel Transport Vehicle [Colombia - Forecast]

  Programme Background Colombia is understood to have a requirement for as many as 100 APCs capable of carrying up to 20 troops and protecting their ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Paraguay VAMTAC ST5

  Programme Background Paraguay's Joint Task Force is in need of new armoured vehicles that can provide sufficient protection against the small arms, mines and IEDs ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Tur-K3 6x6 Light Armoured Vehicle [Bangladesh]

  Programme Background Prior to 2010, the Bangladesh Armed Forces and police operated few light armoured vehicles able to protect against small arms fire and mine ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Tur-K2 4x4 Light Armoured Vehicle [Bangladesh]

  Programme Background Prior to 2010, the Bangladesh Armed Forces and police operated few light armoured vehicles able to protect against small arms fire and mine ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Titan-B

  Programme Background Colombia is understood to have a requirement for as many as 100 APCs capable of carrying up to 20 troops and protecting their ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Su-25K Replacement Sudan

  The UN Security Council imposed an open-ended arms sale embargo to the Sudan in 2004 and it is likely to continue in the coming years, ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Typhoon Tranche 3A [Saudi Arabia]

  Programme Background Timeline In June 2018, Saudi Arabia agreed to procure 48 Eurofighter Typhoon multirole fighter aircraft from BAE. However, Germany's defence export ban to ...

• Patrol boats

  Project 22160 - Russia

  Programme Background Project 22160 is a new type of patrol ship in production for the Russian Navy. The new form of combat unit designed by ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Titan-C

  Programme Background Colombia is understood to have a requirement for as many as 100 APCs capable of carrying up to 20 troops and protecting their ...

• Tanks

  Leopard 2A7HU (Hungary)

  Programme Background The Hungarian Army is in desperate need of new NATO-standard military equipment to replace its ageing Soviet platforms. Approximately 80 T-72M1 MBTs are ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Land: range systems and targets

  Thermal Shot

  The Thermal Shot live-fire virtual targetry system enables immersive live-fire training throughout Laser Shot’s line of training platforms. Thermal Shot-equipped systems provide training on virtual ...

• Virtual Immersive Training Systems

  Cubic provides a full range of virtual training devices to military, public safety and commercial customers worldwide. Cubic focuses on the development and systems integration ...

• Land: infantry weapon simulators

  Small Arms Trainer

  Meggitt manufactures the FATS line of simulators used by the US Army, USMC, USAF, USN, USCG, British Army, Australian Army and other military and government ...

• Land: infantry weapon simulators

  Small Arms Training Simulator

  The Small Arms Training Simulator provides effective and safe shooting training for up to 12 trainees simultaneously, without ammunition consumption. The simulated weapon matches the ...

• Land: infantry weapon simulators

  Sagittarius Evolution

  The Sagittarius Evolution provides small arms marksmanship training, from pistols to grenade launchers and guided weapons. Using CryEngine simulation technology, it has both virtual and ...

• Subsystems: visual

  ExpeditionDI

  The ExpeditionDI is a man-worn, fully immersive, turnkey team simulation solution for infantry simulation and training. It provides an open architecture platform for integrating simulation ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  DarkWing VSAT

  L3Harris DarkWing is a small form factor, lightweight, flat-panel Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT). It is designed to fit in a backpack or laptop-sized case, allowing ...

• Data links

  Ultra Tropo

  The Tactical Transportable TROPO (tropospheric scatter radio) (3T) provides long-haul, high-bandwidth, low-latency communications, giving users BLoS capability in a small, flyaway VSAT system. 3T is ...

• Land: Defensive Systems - Gunshot Detection / Hostile Fire Indicator

  SWAD

  Small Arms Fire Warning and Direction (SWAD) is a passive stationary EO system designed to protect high-value infrastructure and strategic areas by detecting small-arms fire ...

• Land: infantry weapon simulators

  SAVIT

  The Small Arms Virtual Indoor Trainer (SAVIT) is a modular system that can be combined in several configurations depending on customer requirements and training objectives. ...

• Land: fire support simulators

  I-FACT

  Meggitt's Indirect Fire Forward Air Control Trainer (I-FACT) supports training for forward observers, naval gunfire observers, fire support planning and joint tactical close air support. ...

• Land: infantry weapon simulators

  EST 2000

  The Engagement Skills Trainer (EST) 2000 – described as the US Army’s only validated marksmanship trainer – teaches individual marksmanship skills, squad-level collective defence and ...

• Land: Defensive Systems - Gunshot Detection / Hostile Fire Indicator

  SpotLite M

  The SpotLite M system is designed to accurately detect, classify and track small arms fire as well as anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), at ranges greater ...

• Assault rifles/carbines/shotguns

  L85A2 IW

  The L85A2 Individual Weapon (IW) is the assault rifle member of the SA80 5.56x45mm bullpup small arms family originally designed by the Royal Small Arms ...

• Light machine guns

  L86A2 LSW

  The L86A2 Light Support Weapon (LSW) is the fire team support variant of the SA80 5.56x45mm bullpup small arms family originally designed by the Royal ...