• Defence Notes

  Rheinmetall rides high on Ukraine war and European demand

  14th May 2024

  The war in Ukraine has not only seen Rheinmetall and its subsidiaries up the tempo to meet demand for ammunition but also support air defence and vehicle requirements.

• Naval Warfare

  Marinette Marine contracted for two more Constellation frigates

  24th May 2024

  The USN has selected Fincantieri Marinette Marine to build up to ten ships under the FFG(X) next-generation future guided missile frigate programme and the latest order for two means six have now been contracted. The Constellation class will replace Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates, the last of which was retired in 2015.

• Air Warfare

  Turkey completes first AESA radar flight test on F-16 Ozgur with drone trials imminent “within days”

  26th March 2024

  Turkey’s homegrown MURAD radar system has promised to enhance Turkish air combat missions, offering simultaneous air-to-air and air-to-ground functionality, enhanced target detection and EW capabilities.

• Naval Warfare

  Japan to boost surface fleet with new destroyers and missile ships

  18th July 2024

  Japan is enhancing its naval capabilities with the construction of the 13DDX advanced destroyer and Aegis System Equipped Vessels (AESV), aiming to strengthen its air and missile defence amid increasing security threats, particularly in East Asia.

• Naval Warfare

  Could compact submarines become part of future naval warfare?

  19th June 2024

  Low-profile submarines can provide diverse advantages to navies including improved mobility and flexibility.

• Training

  US Navy amphibious group completes training and live firing

  21st May 2024

  During the exercise, BQM-177A targets were intercepted. BQM-177A is a surface-launched, recoverable, remotely piloted, fixed-wing target capable of speeds just short of Mach 1 and altitudes of up to 40,000ft.

• Land Warfare

  First two improved Turkish M60T tanks handed over

  16th February 2024

  The M60Ts, upgraded versions of the M60A3s, were delivered between 2007 and 2010. The latest upgrade followed a rolling programme of upgrades which have included Aselsan SARP RWS, Yamgoz situational awareness cameras, a TLUS laser warning receiver and a Pulat APS completed in 2020.

• Land Warfare

  BAE Systems Hagglunds’ latest CV90 IFV on show in Paris

  17th June 2024

  The newest member of the CV90 family of vehicles features a new turret and more internal space for crews.

• Land Warfare

  Rheinmetall wins order for hundreds of guided artillery rockets

  4th March 2024

  Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Rheinmetall has received orders worth billions of Euro to replenish munitions of European countries supplied to Ukraine, particularly 120mm and 155mm shells, as well as replenish stocks donated by European countries.

• Land Warfare

  Elbit reports 11% revenue growth on the back of land division and war in Gaza

  29th May 2024

  Elbit Systems reported little growth in its US and aerospace businesses for the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023 but substantial growth in C4ISR, EW and land with the latter boosted by ammunition sales.

• Land Warfare

  Germany buys US HIMARS for Ukraine

  13th May 2024

  The High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) can accommodate a 'six pack' of Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System rockets with a maximum range of approximately 70km, or one MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System that can strike targets up to 300km away.

• Land Warfare

  Saab receives Carl-Gustaf M4 order from Poland and gets greenlight for Indian factory

  5th March 2024

  In September 2014, Saab Dynamics introduced the Carl-Gustaf M4, the fourth generation of the widely deployed shoulder-fired 84mm recoilless weapon system.

• Land Warfare

  Malaysian defence update: Key programmes under spotlight at DSA 2024

  3rd May 2024

  The Defence Services Asia (DSA) exhibition in Kuala Lumpur from 6–9 March will feature updates on Malaysia’s defence programmes, including the signing of Batch 2 Littoral Mission Ships and procurement plans for medium lift helicopters.

• Land Warfare

  Europe’s Defence Future: The Strategic Importance of the MGCS Project (Opinion)

  28th May 2024

  The Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) project, initiated by Germany and France in 2018, symbolises a transformative step forward in European defence capabilities.

• Land Warfare

  Analysis: How Russia’s precision strike capability is evolving in Ukraine

  31st May 2024

  From the frontlines to power stations, Russia ability to target high-level targets in Ukraine has evolved significantly, as it expands missile production and deploys new systems to deliver lethal effects.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

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

  Bayraktar TB2 (1-20) [UAE]

  Background UAE and Turkish relations Historically, the two nations were not aligned with one another. However, this situation has quickly turned around, with Emeriti's plans ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Joint Strike Ship [South Korea]

  South Korea is reportedly seeking to acquire up to three Joint Strike Ships as part of its "Three Axis System". The Joint Strike Ship (JSS) is ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Joint Strike Ship [South Korea]

  South Korea is reportedly seeking to acquire up to three Joint Strike Ships as part of its "Three Axis System". The Joint Strike Ship (JSS) is ...

• Loitering munitions

  Turkish Loitering Munitions [Albania]

  Programme Background "Considerable" Speaking on 10 October 2024, Albania's  Prime Minister Edi Rama stated that Türkiye would provide Albania with a "considerable" number of loitering munitions. A government ...

• 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 ...

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

  Bayraktar TB2 (21-120) [UAE]

  Programme Background UAE and Turkish relations Historically, the two nations were not aligned with one another. However, this situation has quickly turned around, with Emeriti's ...

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

  Bayraktar TB2 [Kuwait]

  Background Contract Award On 18 January 2023, Baykar announced signing a $370 million export contract with Kuwait for the Bayraktar TB2. According to the announcement, ...

• Loitering munitions

  Loitering Munitions [Japan]

  Programme Background Appreciation of Loitering Munitions After years of not operating loitering munitions and armed UAVs, Japan's position towards them has changed. Belatedly, the MoD realised ...

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

  Akinci [UAE]

  Programme Background Surprise Delivery Baykar, in a statement of its 2024 achievements, stated that it had delivered two Akinci UAVs to the UAE, one in ...

• Fighter - multirole

  JF-17 [Azerbaijan]

  Programme Background Requirement In October 2019, Turkish media sources reported that at least two Azeri pilots travelled to Pakistan to receive training in JF-17 aircraft. ...

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

  Bayraktar TB2 (Qatar)

  Programme Background In 2018 at DIMDEX, it was revealed that Qatar had bought six Bayraktar TB2 UAVs from Turkey. The deal also included three ground control stations, ...

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

  MQ-9B SeaGuardian [Morocco]

  Background 2020-2030 Morocco-US Agreement In October 2020, officials from the Trump administration visited Morocco, and both nations signed a military and security cooperation agreement. According ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  L-39NG Senegal

  The aircraft will feature five hard-points, two external fuel tanks with 350 lt capacity, Mk 81 and Mk 82 bombs, guided and unguided rockets, single ...

• Main battle tanks

  Altay MBT (Batch 1) [Turkey]

  Programme Background The Altay will replace legacy M48 and M60 MBTs still in service with the Turkish Army. The $3.971 billion contract awarded to BMC in November ...

• Main battle tanks

  Altay MBT (Future Batches) [Turkey]

  Programme Background The Altay will replace legacy M48 and M60 MBTs still in service with the Turkish Army. The $3.971 billion contract awarded to BMC ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: aerial targets, Loitering munitions

  Simsek

  The Simsek (Şimşek), or Lightning, is a high-speed target drone system that enables autonomous high-speed and low-altitude threat stimulation of aircraft and missiles for air-to-air, ...

• Guided munitions

  MAM-L

  The Roketsan Smart Micro Munition (MAM-L) is designed to be used for taking down heavily armoured vehicles,  by all classes of UAVs and light attack aircraft. The ...

• Artillery rockets

  TRG-230

  TRG-230 is a 230 mm GNSS/INS guided artillery rocket developed by the Turkish ROKETSAN as the medium-range guided artillery rocket for the firm’s universal MLRS ...

• Guided munitions

  SMKB (Smart-MK-Bomb)

  The Smart-MK-Bomb, or the SMKB, is a precision guidance kit developed by Mectron and designed to turn Mk 82 and Mk 83 bombs into guided munitions.

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

  Aksungur

  The Aksungur is a twin-engined MALE UAS manufactured by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) for the Turkish Armed Forces. TAI completed the platform's maiden flight on 20 March ...

• Artillery rockets

  TRG-300 Block I

  TRG-300 is a 300 mm artillery rocket developed by Turkish ROKETSAN, serving as the heavy rocket in the TRG family of guided artillery missiles.

• Artillery rockets

  TRG/TRLG-122

  The TRG-122 is a Turkish 122mm family of guided artillery rockets developed by ROKETSAN for the T-122 Sakarya and other MLRS platforms. The family includes ...

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

  Akinci

  The Akinci is a HALE UCAV manufactured by Baykar. Sometimes known as Uçan Balık, the UAV can be fitted with a range of ISR or ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  Multirole Heavy Combat Helicopter

  The Multirole Heavy Combat Helicopter is an attack helicopter being developed by Turkish Aerospace to meet the operational requirements of the Turkish Armed Forces, including air-to-ground ...

• Self-propelled mortars

  2S34 Chosta

  The 2S34 Chosta is an upgraded version of the 122mm 2S1 tracked SPH that replaces the original 2A31 ordnance with the 120mm 2A80-1 mortar-gun, an ...

• EO/IR systems

  StormCaster-DX

  Unveiled at Modern Day Marine 2022, the Teledyne FLIR StormCaster-DX is a multi-role, low-SWaP laser target designator (LTD) payload designed to affect the STANAG-compliant terminal ...

• Air-to-surface missiles

  BARQ

  The BARQ, known as Lighting in Urdu, is a laser-guided air-to-surface missile developed by Pakistan's Global Industrial & Defence Solutions (GIDS). Weighing 47.5kg at launch, the ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Ares 150 SAT

  The Ares 150 SAT is a tactical patrol and guided-missile fast attack craft designed and developed by the Turkish manufacturer Ares Shipyard. The boats are ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  9M331

  The 9M331 is a short-range, surface-to-air missile designed to engage aircraft, helicopters, UAVs, and guided munitions and is the primary missile for the 9K331 Tor ...

• Loitering munitions

  Merkut

  The Merkut, or Merküt, is a first-person view (FPV) style loitering munition system developed by Titra Teknoloji A.Ş. It features a fragmentation warhead that distributes ...