• Naval Warfare

  France’s Normandie frigate in first sea trials

  15th March 2019

  The French Navy’s newest anti-submarine warfare (ASW) FREMM frigate, Normandie, has successfully conducted its first sea trials off the coast of Lorient. The trials were …

• Military Logistics

  US Navy outlines shipyard upgrade plans

  12th March 2019

  The US Navy is preparing to conduct what planners describe as a ‘once-in-a-century’ upgrade of its public shipyards to facilitate service logistics support to current …

• Naval Warfare

  Submarine contracts highlight importance of forward planning

  28th March 2019

  If the fiscal focus for March 2019 in the US began with the Trump administration’s FY2020 budget request, attention as the days slide towards April …

• Defence Notes

  Northrop receives AARGM-ER EMD contract

  13th March 2019

  Northrop Grumman has received a $322.5 million contract from the US Navy for engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) of the Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile-Extended Range …

• Training

  Airbus selects PW206B3 engine for H135 trainer proposal

  12th March 2019

  Airbus Helicopters has selected Pratt & Whitney’s PW206B3 engine to power the Airbus H135 IFR-certified helicopter it is proposing for the US Navy’s helicopter trainer …

• Training

  Kratos’ BQM-177A achieves IOC with US Navy

  8th March 2019

  Kratos Defense & Security Solutions’ new BQM-177A Subsonic Aerial Target (SSAT) has achieved initial operational capability (IOC) with the US Navy, the company announced on …

• Defence Notes

  Kratos, Corvid receive sub-orbital flight vehicle contract

  11th March 2019

  Kratos Defense & Security Solutions’ Space & Missile Defense Systems, teamed with Corvid Technologies, has received a contract to deliver short and medium range sub-orbital …

• Training

  AAFC to receive training aircraft

  5th March 2019

  The Australian Air Force Cadets (AAFC) is set to receive eight Diamond DA40 NG light aircraft for its flight training requirements, the Australian Department of …

• Naval Warfare

  Investigation continues into USS Devastator fire

  19th March 2019

  Bahrain-based US military personnel are continuing to investigate the cause of a fire onboard the mine countermeasure vessel USS Devastator while moored at Naval Support …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  USMC looks to buy Reaper UAVs

  14th March 2019

  The USMC wants to begin buying a handful of MQ-9A Reaper UAVs in FY2020 to meet an ‘urgent operational need,’ according to a US Navy …

• Defence Notes

  Trump seeks $33 billion hike in US DoD budget

  12th March 2019

  The US DoD would receive $718 billion in FY2020, a $33 billion or 5% increase from the FY2019 enacted level, under the Trump administration’s newly …

• Training

  Australian Navy's communication sim delivered

  25th February 2019

  The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Defence Force School of Signals Maritime Wing at HMAS Cerberus in Victoria has recently received a new communication simulator. The device …

• Land Warfare

  US anti-missile agency delays fielding more long-range interceptors

  19th March 2019

  The deployment of more long-range interceptor missiles to defend the United States against North Korean ballistic missiles is being pushed back two years, to 2025, …

• Naval Warfare

  Thales trumpets export potential for Type 31e Arrowhead 140 design

  1st March 2019

  Thales is still shaping its proposal as part of the wider Babcock-led Arrowhead 140 offer for the UK’s Type 31e frigate programme, with a design …

• Naval Warfare

  Ultra Electronics to support CSC programme

  25th February 2019

  Ultra Electronics Maritime Systems has received a sub-contract from Lockheed Martin Canada to work on the integration of underwater systems for the Canadian Surface Combatant …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Loitering munitions

  Loitering Munition (Royal Navy) [UK]

  Background Persistent Operational Deployment Systems (PODS) As the Royal Navy stated in 2022, Persistent Operational Deployment Systems (PODS) are “interchangeable modules that can be fitted to ...

• Directed energy weapons

  Project Dragonfire [UK]

  Background The UK Government's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) has been working with MBDA, Leonardo and QinetiQ to develop a LASER Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW) called ...

• Military UAS - small

  T-150 (Royal Navy) [UK]

  Background Deployment On 7 April 2025, the Royal Navy announced that, for the first time, nine T-150 drones would be operated from the HMS Prince ...

• Land: air defence radar

  Lanza 3D Radar [Thailand]

  Background Thailand is procuring the LANZA 3D radar to strengthen surveillance and protection of Sattahip Naval Base. The radar will be deployed by the Royal ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Flexible Tactical Uncrewed Air System (FTUAS) [UK]

  Background Tender notice and timeline On 25 May 2021, the MoD published a tender notice for the urgent acquisition of a UAS and ancillaries under ...

• Military UAS - small

  Puma 3 AE (UK)

  Programme Background Testing The Royal Navy announced in October 2020 that the Puma was undergoing its first operational testing on HMS Albion's autumn deployment to ...

• Frigates

  Hamilton Class Cutter [Bahrain]

  Background Very little has been said about the transfer of an ex-Hamilton-class cutter to Bahrain, but it is one of the final two to leave ...

• Patrol boats

  Evolved Cape Class (1-6) [Australia]

  Programme Background Austal was awarded a contract to build six 'Evolved' Cape-class patrol boats for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) on 1 May 2020. The contract ...

• Patrol boats

  Evolved Cape Class (7-8) [Australia]

  Programme Background Austal was awarded a contract to build six 'Evolved'Cape-class patrol boats for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) on 1 May 2020 (see separate ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Boraida Class replacement [Saudi Arabia]

  Background Requirements The Royal Saudi Navy urges the replacement of three Boraida-class minehunters. Based on the Durance-class design, the ships entered service in the mid-1980s ...

• Minehunters

  Lat Ya Class Replacement Programme [Thailand]

  Programme Background Requirements The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) currently operates two Lat Ya-class minehunters, commissioned in the late 1990s. The units are based on the ...

• Frigates

  Air Defence Frigates Procurement [Denmark]

  Background Requirements After focusing on the procurement of new highly capable patrol ships and new Arctic frigates as a replacement for the Thetis-class, Shephard had initially estimated ...

• Frigates

  Karel Dorman Class (Chile)

  Programme Background  Chile currently operates two ex-Karel Doorman-class frigates which were sold in 2004. The Royal Netherlands Navy are in the process of replacing the ...

• Military UAS - small

  V-Bat [Netherlands]

  Background Contract award On 9 July 2025, Shield AI announced that the Netherlands MoD had acquired eight V-Bat aircraft, specifically the V-Bat 400, to enhance the maritime ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Multi-Role Support Ship (MRSS) (3) [Malaysia]

  Programme Background Requirements The Royal Malaysian Navy are in the process of a fleet transformation plan known as the 15 to 5 Transformation Plan, which ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Submarine-launched torpedoes

  Mk 48 Mod 7AT CBASS

  The MK 48 MOD 7 Common Broadband Advanced Sonar System (CBASS) is the latest variant of the Mk 48 torpedo family manufactured by Lockheed Martin and ...

• Military - UUVs

  XV Excalibur

  XV Excalibur is an Extra Large Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (XLUUV) built by UK-based MSubs, in conjunction with the Royal Navy. It is an experimental vessel ...

• Frigates

  Hunter Class (Type 26)

  The Hunter-class frigates for the Royal Australian Navy are based on the Type 26 design. The ships are set to replace the Anzac-class under the ...

• Sea: naval fire control radar

  Ceros 200

  The Ceros 200 is a radar and optronic tracking system designed for use on naval vessels. When interfaced with modern missile or gun systems, it ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  Royal Danish Navy MH-60R MOFT

  In January 2014, CAE was awarded an FMS contract by the USN to develop an MH-60R mission operational flight trainer (MOFT) for the Royal Danish ...

• Frigates

  Naresuan Class

  The Naresuan-class guided-missile frigates are a modified variant of the Chinese-built Type 053 frigate. The two ships-in-class were built by the China State Shipbuilding Corporation ...

• Destroyers

  River Class (Type 26)

  The Type 26 Anti-Submarine Warfare frigate has been designed for the UK Royal Navy, but with an emphasis on export. Both the Royal Canadian Navy ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  AN/SPY-7(V)1

  The AN/SPY-7(V)1 is a solid-state naval surveillance radar produced and manufactured by Lockheed Martin. The system is expected to be fully integrated into programmes for ...

• Frigates

  Jacob Van Heemskerck Class

  The Jacob van Heemskerck class frigates were ex-Royal Netherlands Navy frigates that also served under the Chilean Navy, also known as the Latorre-class. Two anti-aircraft warfare (AAW) ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Walrus

  The Walrus is a mini rotary-wing UAV manufactured by the Royal Navy's 700X Naval Air Squadron.  As stressed during the December 2022 announcement, Walrus has been ...

• Land: battlefield and ground surveillance radar

  RD-170BT

  The RD-170BT is a man-portable surveillance radar deployed ashore to protect moored patrol boats of the Royal Norwegian Navy. 

• Minehunters

  Sandown Class

  The Sandown class vessels are coastal minehunters and OPVs in service with the UK Royal Navy and Royal Saudi Naval Forces as the Al Jawf class. Additionally, ...

• Military - UUVs

  Mission Specialist Defender

  The Mission Specialist Defender is a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) developed by VideoRay, now part of BlueHalo's unmanned maritime systems. The ROV is known ...

• Frigates

  Type 22 (Batch 1)

  The Type 22 frigates were previously the Broadsword-class in service with the UK's Royal Navy. The vessels were built in three batches, with the first ...

• Sea: weapon training

  Inflatable Naval Gunnery Targets

  GeoData produces a range of Naval Gunnery Target Balloons (NavTGTs) for use by marine, navy, coast guard and army units to maintain target acquisition and ...