• Land Warfare

  DSEI 2025: Polaris displays new all-terrain vehicle with Alakran mortar system

  18th September 2025

  The Polaris Government and Defense’s Military RZR (MRZR) Alpha 1KW was displayed at the Modern Day Marine exposition in the US earlier this year and with the Alakran mobile mortar weapon system at DSEI. The company outlined recent firing trials with the Alakran mobile mortar weapon system (MMWS) which was weeks after the company announced a major NATO deal.

• Land Warfare

  DSEI 2025: Belgium will be fourth user of 40mm 40CT cannon

  11th September 2025

  The cannon is currently used by the French Army, French Navy and British Army. It has an elevation of +85° with a cyclic rate of fire of 200 rounds per minute.

• Air Warfare

  CH-47 Chinook: why the iconic helicopter design is still a heavy-lift contender (updated 2026)

  26th March 2026

  From its emergence as a ground-breaking design in the 1950s to its widespread deployment in diverse operations worldwide, the Chinook continues to leave an indelible mark on the aviation landscape. Shephard sums up the helicopter’s latest developments.

• Air Warfare

  AI mission-autonomy software integration and partnerships see progress across CCA efforts

  17th February 2026

  The successful integration of third-party mission autonomy in the US Air Force’s CCA programme and movement on Helsing’s Europa CA-1 timelines mark key milestones in the development of uncrewed aerial capabilities.

• Land Warfare

  DSEI 2025: Versatile 8×8 vehicles taste success as new versions rolled out

  8th September 2025

  From protected mobility, infantry fighting and reconnaissance to armoured personnel carrier, armoured vehicles and amphibious assault, the 8×8 vehicle is a jack-of-all-trades. In theory, it allows a single vehicle type to fulfil varied roles while providing commonality, and the European market and vehicle types are growing rapidly.

• Air Warfare

  Latin American air forces look beyond fighters to revamp transport aircraft fleets

  4th February 2026

  The Mexican Air Force has become the first Latin American operator of the C-130J Super Hercules, but the service is not alone in acquiring a tactical airlifter in recent months.

• Air Warfare

  Why the F-16 fighter jet remains a force to be reckoned with (updated 2026)

  28th January 2026

  The Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter jet remains in the limelight more than 40 years after its first flight. Shephard sums up the latest developments and details everything you need to know about the aircraft in 2026.

• Land Warfare

  Sweden’s recent air defence spend tips to $6 billion with 2026 procurement planned

  12th January 2026

  Procurement of various short-range systems will begin in the first quarter of 2026, with additional procurements to be made later in the year.

• Land Warfare

  German Army to receive third-generation Dingo protected patrol vehicles this year

  3rd July 2025

  More than 1,200 Dingo 1 and Dingo 2 models have been built and deployed by some 10 countries. The latest Dingo 3 pulls through from user inputs and, like earlier versions, is also based on a UNIMOG chassis.

• Air Warfare

  November Drone Digest: GA-ASI eyes Middle East for Gambit, Edge Group unveils new UAVs

  1st December 2025

  In November 2025, GA-ASI unveiled a new Gambit variant, the Gambit 6, and appears to be pitching the aircraft series to various customers in the Middle East, which is a fast-emerging CCA market. The Dubai Airshow also saw the unveiling of various Emirati aircraft from Edge Group.

• Naval Warfare

  How the Golden Fleet will change the US Navy acquisition process

  24th February 2026

  The procurement of the future USN Golden Fleet is planned to be less bureaucratic than previous strategies, involving AI-enabled designs and scheduling tools to increase productivity and avoid delays.

• Defence Notes

  US seeks 32% boost for missile defence budget with $23 billion earmarked for interceptors

  22nd April 2026

  The Pentagon’s proposed budget for the next fiscal year includes an impressive increase in the procurement of interceptors, with the number of the US Army’s PAC-3 MSE rounds expanding by 683%, the US Navy’s Standard Missile by 365% and the MDA’s SM-3 IIA by more than 1,000%.

• Land Warfare

  Western Europe is looking to refresh its APC/IFV fleets with potential $41 billion spend

  4th December 2025

  As militaries across Western Europe continue to modernise their capabilities, there are some major potential opportunities in the requirement for armoured personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles.

• Land Warfare

  Rheinmetall to supply another 1,388 vehicles to German Army

  6th August 2025

  Rheinmetall MAN has already delivered around 7,000 HX military trucks to the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) and the latest contract for 1,388 vehicles will be completed before the end of the year. Germany’s order reflects similar investments in other countries.

• Land Warfare

  British Army considers purchasing the NEMO 120mm mortar turret for the Patria 6×6

  7th July 2025

  Babcock is offering the Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS) 6×6 for one of the elements of the UK Land Mobility Programme (LMP). It would be a replacement for some of the UK’s existing armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) fleets including the FV432 which is now some 70 years old.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Light attack

  AT-6 [Tunisia]

  Programme Background On 26 February 2020, the US State Department announced that it has approved a potential sale of four AT-6 aircraft and related equipment to Tunisia ...

• Loitering munitions

  Mini-Harpy [Israeli Navy]

  Programme Background MADEX 2023 At MADEX 2023, IAI displayed the Mini-Harpy, dubbed the Green Dragon, loitering munition in a 12-system launcher mounted to an Israel Navy Sa'ar 6 ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Mohajer-6 [Venezuela]

  Background Confirmed usage In December 2025, reports emerged that Venezuela was operating the Mohajer-6 UAV, which was reportedly seen at the Venezuelan Air Force’s El ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  Spain HT-29 Caiman (NH90 TTH) - Army Second Batch

  The $600 million program value is calculated based on the relative estimated unit costs of each helicopter type (NH90 NFH and TTH) and procurement quantity ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Armoured Cavalry Vehicle [Canada]

  Programme Background The Canadian Army is currently undergoing a generational transformation. Its organisational structure is being overhauled with a transition away from a geographical focus ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  CH-47D Replacement [Thailand]

  Programme Background The RTA divested its six Boeing CH-47D Chinooks after failing to sell the 25-year-old aircraft on the second-hand market. Thailand found Chinook maintenance ...

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

  Mohajer-2 [Venezuela]

  Background Domestic production Venezuela signed a deal with Iran in April 2007 for 12 Mohajer-2 knock-down kits. The UAVs were assembled in Venezuela. The UAVs ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-64E Apache (May 2019 FMS)

  Also included are 28 M230 30mm automatic chain guns, AN/AVR-2B laser detecting sets, AN/APR-39 radar signal detecting sets, AN/AVS-6 night vision goggles, M299 Hellfire missile ...

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

  Beyond Vision Drones [Portugal]

  Programme Background Contract Award On 14 February 2023, Beyond Vision announced that it had been awarded a €600,375 contract for the acquisition of "6 Mulittoror ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  Spain HT-29 Caiman (NH90 TTH) - Army First Batch

  HT-29 Caiman GSPAs (NH90 TTH) will be assembled at Airbus Helicopters’ facility in Albacete and will replace AS332 Super Puma fleet in service. Even though ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Multi-Mission Aircraft (1-14) [Canada]

  The objective of the Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft project is to equip the Canadian Armed Forces with a long-range manned Command, Control, Communications and Computers (C4) and ...

• Data links

  Data links | Multi-Mission Aircraft (1-14) [Canada]

  The objective of the Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft project is to equip the Canadian Armed Forces with a long-range manned Command, Control, Communications and Computers (C4) and ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Multi-Mission Aircraft (1-14) [Canada]

  The objective of the Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft project is to equip the Canadian Armed Forces with a long-range manned Command, Control, Communications and Computers (C4) and ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Multi-Mission Aircraft (1-14) [Canada]

  The objective of the Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft project is to equip the Canadian Armed Forces with a long-range manned Command, Control, Communications and Computers (C4) and ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors, Patrol boats

  Gun Boats (Pakistan)

  Programme Background Timeline The first steel cutting for these boats occurred on 6 October 2022. The PN is seeking 20 vessels; the first one should ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Major networking projects

  Skynet 6 SATCOM

  Skynet 6 is designed to replace Skynet 5. The PFI contract for Skynet 5,  held by Paradigm Secure Communications and Airbus DS, ends in 2022. As ...

• Major networking projects

  Skynet 5 SATCOM

  Airbus is the service provider for the UK MoD Skynet 5 private finance initiative contract, signed in October 2003 and now worth $5.6 billion. Airbus ...

• Major networking projects

  Satcom Post-2000

  The Satcom Post-2000 programme gives the alliance improved SATCOM capabilities, which is important as NATO forces take on expeditionary missions beyond their traditional area of ...

• Counter-UAS systems

  Skynet

  The Skynet anti-drone system is a portable C-UAS device that resembles a rifle. It is operated with a manpack system and has a charging time ...

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

  CH-6

  The CH-6, or Cai Hong 6 or Rainbow-6, is a UCAV unveiled by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) on 19 April 2021.  Shown ...

• Bomber

  H-6

  The People's Liberation Army Air Force has eight regiments of bombers and they operate an estimated 160 H-6 variants that have been in service since ...

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

  QX-6

  Unveiled at the Dubai Airshow 2021, the QX-6 is a cargo-carrying UAV manufactured by ADASI, a subsidiary of the EDGE Group. The QX-6 features an autopilot ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  SPY-6(V)2

  The SPY-6(V)2 Enterprise Air Surveillance Radar (EASR) is a rotating-face surveillance radar manufactured by Raytheon. The system is the smallest variant of the AN/SPY-6 radar ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  AN/ARS-6 (V12) PLS R/T

  The new AN/ARS-6 (V12) Personnel Locator System (PLS) Receiver/Transmitter (R/T) is a functional replacement for the old AN/ARS-6. These systems are used to locate missing ...

• MSR/MAA-6

  The Messenger Smart Receiver (MSR) receiver and Messenger Antenna Array 6 (MAA-6) antenna array combine to form a long-range central receive system. The MAA-6’s six ...

• Trucks and utility vehicles - 4x4, Trucks and utility vehicles - 6x6

  7000-MV MTV

  The Navistar 7000 series is a range of military heavy-lift vehicles developed by Navistar Defense, based on the Navistar International WorkStar truck chassis. This series ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM, Land: Radio and SATCOM

  AN/ARS-6(V12) PLS

  The new AN/ARS-6 (V12) Personnel Locator System (PLS) Receiver/Transmitter (R/T) is a functional replacement for the old AN/ARS-6. These systems are used to locate missing ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  AT-6 GBTS

  CAE USA is the Ground-Based Training System (GBTS) provider for the Beechcraft AT-6 light attack and armed reconnaissance aircraft. CAE has responsibility for designing and ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  SPY-6(V)3

  The SPY-6(V)3 Enterprise Air Surveillance Radar (EASR) is a fixed-face surveillance radar manufactured by Raytheon. The system is designed to defend against cruise missiles, anti-surface ...

• Ship-launched torpedoes, Submarine-launched torpedoes

  RPK-6 Vyuga

  The RPK-6 (NATO Codename SS-N-16 Stallion) is a Russian-made long-range anti-submarine warfare (ASW) system designed to deliver a torpedo to its target. It includes two missile variants, the ...