• Training

  Philippines joins ANNUALEX Indo-Pacific naval exercise as observer as tensions rise in the region

  13th November 2023

  Annual Exercise (ANNUALEX), a multinational naval exercise including participants from Australia, Canada, Japan and the US, started on 11 November and will involve 30 ships and 40 aircraft.

• Naval Warfare

  Houthi militants target US commercial and military vessels

  15th January 2024

  The non-state military group launched missiles towards the USS Laboon and the US-owned-and-operated container ship Gibraltar Eagle.

• Air Warfare

  Poland begins AW101 Merlin helicopter induction as final delivery approaches

  13th December 2023

  The Polish Navy has initiated the induction of its first Leonardo AW101 Merlin anti-submarine warfare helicopter, with three aircraft stationed at the Naval Aviation Brigade air base and a fourth undergoing Polish system modifications.

• Training

  Australia dives deep with $2 billion AUKUS submarine training investment

  12th December 2023

  The US has given the green light to a potential contract with Australia aimed at bolstering the AUKUS trilateral agreement by enhancing Royal Australian Navy training.

• Air Warfare

  Irish C295 MPAs fitted with Viasat SATCOM terminals

  5th December 2023

  The terminals enable secure, reliable satellite connectivity and support a range of command, control and communication needs for the C295 aircraft, which have roles in maritime patrol, tactical transport, special operations and medical evacuation.

• Naval Warfare

  Austal USA awarded $867 million for three hospital ships

  22nd December 2023

  The US Navy’s new Expeditionary Medical Ships (EMS) will be designated Bethesda Class EMS and first of class will be called USNS Bethesda.

• Naval Warfare

  Netherlands selects Barracuda submarine as Australia looks on

  20th March 2024

  With the Netherlands selecting the Barracuda design for its new Orka-class submarines, it will give Australia a chance to see what it could have had after it cancelled its conventional submarine (SSK) project based on Barracuda, opting instead for a nuclear-powered submarine (SSN).

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2023: Lockheed Martin launches latest version of Prepar3D training solution

  28th November 2023

  This latest release of Prepar3D offers improvements in realism and efficiency, catering to training scenarios across aviation, maritime and ground domains, according to Lockheed Martin.

• Naval Warfare

  Turkey’s ASFAT on track to deliver first Hisar OPV in 2024

  2nd December 2023

  While outfitting activities on the first two Hisar-class OPVs have been advancing at Istanbul Naval Shipyard, discussions for additional platforms continue.

• Naval Warfare

  Portugal contracts Damen for multi-purpose vessel designed for integrated uncrewed air and sea systems

  27th November 2023

  The new ship’s primary roles will be search and rescue, emergency relief and oceanic research but will also be used for naval support operations and maritime safety.

• Naval Warfare

  Australia’s Tritons edge closer to operations as service contract signed

  9th November 2023

  Australia’s Exclusive Economic Zone off the north-west coast stretches almost to the edge of the continental shelf, in places more than 500km from the coastline, and Tritons and upgraded P-8As will massively boost patrol capability as integrated systems.

• Training

  Trilateral autonomous undersea warfare exercise tightens the bonds of AUKUS

  10th November 2023

  The Integrated Battle Problem 23-3 exercise brought together Australian, UK and US naval forces test to autonomous undersea warfare capabilities.

• Training

  Ukrainian Navy participate in Exercise Joint Warrior in UK

  26th October 2023

  The Ukrainian Navy has joined 10 nations involved in a major multinational exercise in waters off Scotland.

• Naval Warfare

  Argentina maritime patrol boosted with P-3C Orion purchase from Norway

  20th October 2023

  The Argentine Navy will undertake long-range maritime patrol and surveillance missions with a fleet of four ex-Norwegian P-3 Orion aircraft under a deal announced by Argentina on 17th October.

• Training

  German airmobile forces to get new NH90 helicopter crew trainer

  22nd November 2023

  Reiser Simulation and Training has secured a deal to develop and deliver specialised NH90 helicopter rear-cabin trainer for the German airmobile forces.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

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

  Intra-Theatre Lift [UK]

  Programme Background  Relationship to the Heavy Lift Challange The Royal Navy (RN) embarked on the Heavy Lift Challenge, now called the Heavy Lift Capability (UASHLC), to explore ...

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

  StormShroud: Autonomous Collaboration Platform (ACP) [UK]

  Background Autonomous Collaboration Platform (ACP) Strategy Reflecting on lessons learned from the cancellation of the Mosquito programme, the Royal Air Force (RAF) redefined the role ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | C295 MPAs [India]

  In February 2024, India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to purchase 15 maritime patrol aircraft for about $3.5 billion. The Indian ...

• Data links

  Data links | C295 MPAs [India]

  In February 2024, India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to purchase 15 maritime patrol aircraft for about $3.5 billion. The Indian ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | C295 MPAs [India]

  In February 2024, India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to purchase 15 maritime patrol aircraft for about $3.5 billion. The Indian ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | C295 MPAs [India]

  In February 2024, India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to purchase 15 maritime patrol aircraft for about $3.5 billion. The Indian ...

• Maritime patrol

  C295 MPAs [India]

  Programme Background In February 2024, India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to purchase 15 maritime patrol aircraft for about $3.5 ...

• Maritime patrol

  C295 MPA [Angola]

  Programme Background Requirement Angola uses a mix of Dornier Do-28s, A-29s and EMB-312 Tucanos for maritime surveillance duties. The country's dedicated maritime patrol capability was ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Israel Heron Lease

  Programme BackgroundIn February 2018, Greece announced that it would lease seven Heron drones from Israel. The lease contract, worth €35.5 million ($44m), will cover a ...

• Maritime patrol

  Maritime Patrol Aircraft [Malaysia]

  Programme Background In June 2019, The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) has confirmed to Shephard that the government has given approval for the service to prepare ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Maritime Patrol Aircraft [Singapore]

  Singapore requires a replacement platform for five Fokker 50 Maritime Enforcer Mk.2 aircraft. The total programme cost for five long-range maritime patrol aircraft is estimated to be ...

• Data links

  Data links | Maritime Patrol Aircraft [Singapore]

  Singapore requires a replacement platform for five Fokker 50 Maritime Enforcer Mk.2 aircraft. The total programme cost for five long-range maritime patrol aircraft is estimated to be ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Maritime Patrol Aircraft [Singapore]

  Singapore requires a replacement platform for five Fokker 50 Maritime Enforcer Mk.2 aircraft. The total programme cost for five long-range maritime patrol aircraft is estimated to be ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Maritime Patrol Aircraft [Singapore]

  Singapore requires a replacement platform for five Fokker 50 Maritime Enforcer Mk.2 aircraft. The total programme cost for five long-range maritime patrol aircraft is estimated to be ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | P-1 EW [Japan]

  Japan is advancing its electronic warfare (EW) capabilities through the development of an EW version of the domestically produced Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraft. The ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

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

  AR5

  First announced in October 2012, the AR5 is a MALE UAS designed for SAR, surveillance and maritime patrol missions. The AR5 can be flown manually or commanded ...

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

  AR3

  The AR3, or AR3 Net Ray, is an autonomous small-UAS designed to support land-based and maritime missions.  In May 2025, the Royal Air Force announced ...

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

  ARX

  Unveiled at Xponential 2024, the ARX is a fixed-wing drone developed by Tekever.  It features common electronics and software with other Tekever drones. Unlike those ...

• EO/IR systems

  PT-8DN

  The PT-8DN is a versatile day-night payload from Overwatch Imaging.  It has dual RGB sensors of different focal lengths and an HD LWIR sensor. It also ...

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

  AR2 Carcará

  The AR2 Carcará is a hand- or catapult-launched mini-UAV designed to support search and rescue, surveillance and patrol operations in amphibious and maritime environments. It is ...

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

  AR4

  The AR4 is a hand-launched mini-UAS designed for rapid mobile deployment. Manufactured by Tekever, the UAS is suitable for both military and commercial ISTAR applications.  A ...

• EO/IR systems

  PT-8N

  The PT-8D is an IR system from Overwatch Imaging. It is fitted with multiple HD thermal cameras and has been designed to conduct missions at dusk ...

• EO/IR systems

  PT-8D

  Marketed as a cost-effective solution, the PT-8D is a wide-area search and ISR payload from Overwatch Imaging. It features an RGB colour camera and a ...

• Subsystems: hardware

  Maritime Console

  The Discovery Machine Maritime Console can create highly intelligent entities for use in simulated training events. It is designed to work with the USN Joint ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems

  FlyingFish Maritime

  The FlyingFish Maritime SIGINT system is one of several derivatives of the FlyingFish Airborne Satellite Monitoring System developed by Horizon Technologies. Designed to be mounted ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  SitaWare Maritime

  Developed by Systematic, SitaWare Maritime is a C4ISR system that emphasises interoperability, the ability to provide a recognised maritime picture, and data-led decision-making aids. According ...

• Maritime patrol

  Cessna Maritime Patrol

  The Cessna 'special mission' Maritime Patrol Aircraft is a variant of the Cessna Citation Longitude business jet developed by Textron aviation. Textron has stated the onboard systems, ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Torch-X Maritime

  Produced by Elbit Systems, the Torch-X Maritime is a combat management system which combines mature COTS components into an open-architecture C4I suite. Notably, the system ...

• Data links

  Maritime Tactical Data Link

  The Maritime Tactical Data Link (MTDL) is a developmental tactical data link by Hanwha Systems. Offered in 16 configurations, the system is based on the ...

• Naval: Radio and SATCOM

  WSC-6 Maritime SATCOM terminal

  The AN/WSC-6(V)9 family of SATCOM terminals provides high-data-rate communications to deployed small and large naval combatants and support ships. The terminals provide operation in X- ...