• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2016: US Army programme highlights (video)

  2nd October 2016

  The US Army has several ongoing programmes to try and imporve its capabilities. At AUSA 2016, Tim Fish highlights some of these programmes and which …

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2016: Suppressive fire concept to be to be unveiled

  30th September 2016

  Control Solutions will be unveiling its design to provide the current inventory of open manned turrets with a new remote suppressive fire (RSF) capability. According …

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2016: GMV influence continues

  29th September 2016

  One major theme from recent AUSA annual meetings that is likely to be repeated in 2016 is the presence on extremely lightweight vehicle platforms.  The …

• Defence Helicopter

  AUSA 2016: Future Vertical Lift takes off (video)

  28th September 2016

  The US Army is currently looking for a new generation of rotorcraft to replace some of its in-service helicopters through its Future Vertical Lift (FVL) …

• Digital Battlespace

  AUSA 2016: Army pursues 7,000 new radios

  28th September 2016

  The US Army initiated a full and open competition for the Small Airborne Networking Radio (SANR) through its 11 August 2016 release of a draft …

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2016: Army set for AMPV delivery

  28th September 2016

  The US Army is on schedule to receive its first Armoured Multipurpose Vehicle (AMPV) prototype from manufacturer BAE Systems this December, company officials have said. …

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2016: Mobile firepower plans emerge

  27th September 2016

  The Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) programme is one of the few new ground combat vehicle acquisitions being currently pursued by the US Army.   MPF …

• Defence Helicopter

  AUSA 2016: V-247 to provide pivotal vigilance

  27th September 2016

  Bell Helicopter has unveiled its unmanned VTOL concept, the V-247 Vigilant tiltrotor, which it hopes will meet the US Marine Corps’ (USCM) requirement for a …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUSA 2016: Roboteam bids for common robotics

  26th September 2016

  Roboteam see success with US military programmes like the Common Robotics System - Individual (CRS-I) as an opportunity for the company. The RfP for CRS-I …

• Defence Helicopter

  AUSA 2016: Helicopter engine replacement for the future

  26th September 2016

  The replacement of the T700 engine onboard the UH-60 Black Hawk and AH-64 Apache, through the Improved Turbine Engine Program (ITEP), remains a longer-term option …

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2016: JLTV freed from protest

  26th September 2016

  Oshkosh Defense says it is on track with the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) programme and will be ready to deliver the first vehicles to …

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2016: Saab M4 gets smarter

  26th September 2016

  Saab is moving forward with new munition technology for its latest-generation Carl Gustaf M4 84mm recoilless gun, including a ‘smart’ high-explosive (HE) round and a …

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2016: MUTT family grows

  26th September 2016

  General Dynamic Land Systems has expanded its range of load-carrying ground robots – known as the multipurpose unmanned tactical transport (MUTT) - to include heavier …

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2016: M109A7 contributes to Army modernisation

  26th September 2016

  One of the US Army’s little noticed combat vehicle success stories is actually being pioneered by an artillery system, the M109A7 - formerly the M109 …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUSA 2016: Army to lease robot mules

  26th September 2016

  The US Army may expedite its plans to field so-called ‘robotic mules’ – or unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) – that can carry soldier’s equipment on …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Xtender [US]

  Programme Background Previous Procurement In early 2021, the US Department of Defence awarded a contract to XTEND for the platform in partnership with Isreal's MoD. ...

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

  V-Bat [Greece]

  Background Contract Award In May 2025, Kathimerini, a Greek morning political and economic newspaper, reported that the Greek Army had acquired two V-Bat UAVs. Funded partly by ...

• Loitering munitions

  Echelon 0: Ground Organic Precision Strike Systems (GOPSS) [USSOCOM]

  Programme Background Requirements The U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has made loitering capabilities a priority in its efforts to support counter-violent extremist organization (C-VEO) operations ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, 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, specifically the V-Bat 400, aircraft to enhance the maritime intelligence, surveillance ...

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

  V-Bat 128 [Colombia]

  Programme Background Procurement In August 2024, The Rio Times reported that the Columbian Navy had begun to equip its four Type FS 1500  frigates with the V-Bat ...

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

  V-Bat 128 [Brazil]

  Background Contract award On 7 February 2022, Shield AI announced on its website that it had, on 21 January 2021, signed a contract with VSK Tactical, through ...

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

  Gray Eagle 25M (1-12) [US National Guard]

  Programme Background Requirement In FY2021, the National Guard Association of the United States (NGUAS) announced that it was "critical" that it fielded the MQ-1C Gray Eagle ...

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

  Wolverine / Honeybadger [US]

  Programme Background During the Modern Day Marine (MDM) exhibition, held in Washington between 10-12 May 2022, XTEND announced it would supply hundreds of Wolverine platforms ...

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

  Maritime UAS (MUAS) [USCG]

  Background Contract Award In June 2024, the USCG awarded Shield AI an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity firm-fixed-price contract to supply UAVs for its cutter vessels. The contract, which will ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  XM30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle [USA]

  Programme Background Requirement The OMFV programme is the latest of several attempts to develop a Bradley replacement.  Designed to be capable of operating with or without ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) (Phase II) [USA]

  Programme Background Requirement The Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) provides short-range day and night ISR to US Army units at the squad, platoon and other small ...

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

  Large ULS-A / Aerial Logistics Connector (ALC) [USMC]

  Background US Marine ULS-A programmes The US Marines are seeking a family of Unmanned Logistics Systems-Air (ULS-A), which will provide logistics and ground units with their ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) (MV-75 Cheyenne II) [USA]

  Programme Background US Army's Future Vertical Lift Programme The FLRAA is one of three strands of a broader army programme. The others are the Future ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Short Range Reconnaissance (SRR) (Tranche 2) / Rucksack Portable UAS (RPUAS) [USA]

  Programme Background The Rucksack Portable UAS (RPUAS) Programme The RPUAS programme will provide the battalion and below-ground manoeuvre elements within the US Army with an ...

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

  V-Bat [India]

  Background Make In India The ‘Make In India’ is an initiative by the Indian government to grow the domestic manufacturing industry. In the defence context, ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Bradley NG/RB301

  BAE Systems introduced the Bradley Next Generation (NG) at AUSA 2016 to showcase a cost-effective option for extending the M2 Bradley's service life into the 2030s. Centred around ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Fang

  Fang is a first-person view (FPV) UAS for precision strike roles. The drone is aimed to launch in Q2 2025. Developed by Red Cat, the drone ...

• Loitering munitions

  L-Spike 4X

  The L-Spike 4X is a loitering munition first displayed by Rafael US at AUSA 2025.  iI will be offered with two primary warhead configurations: Tandem HEAT ...

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

  Golden Eagle HS

  The Golden Eagle HS (Heavy Strike) is a rotary-wing UAV that can be armed with Rafael's powerful Spike SR and LR2 missiles, providing ground troops with anti-armour ...

• Loitering munitions

  Switchblade 400

  At AUSA 2025, AeroVironment (AV) unveiled the Switchblade 400, a rocket-launched, medium-range, man-portable loitering munition. AV states the aircrat has been designed to defeat tanks and heavy ...

• Heavy UGVs

  Tracked Robot 10-Ton (TRX)

  The TRX (Tracked Robot 10-ton) is a UGV developed by General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS). The vehicle has been intended to be an enabling technology in critical ...

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

  Twister

  Unveiled at AUSA 2023, the Twister is a mini fixed-wing UAV manufactured by Quantum-Systems. It is an eVTOL drone that performs ISR missions autonomously. It can be ...

• Loitering munitions

  HERO-400

  The HERO-400 is a loitering munition manufactured by UVision. Part of the HERO family, the HERO-400 can accurately strike against a range of targets. It ...

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

  P550

  Designed by AeroVironment, the P550 is a fixed-wing UAV that can host reconnaissance, EW or offensive payloads. It was developed in collaboration with Parry Labs and features ...

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

  Reliant

  The Reliant is a Quantum Systems VTOL-capable fixed-wing drone unveiled at the Special Operations Forces (SOF) Week Exhibition 2024. The hybrid drone is due to ...

• Loitering munitions

  HERO-1250

  The HERO-1250 is the largest lethal loitering system in the HERO series by UVision. It is capable of long-range multipurpose operations. This weapon system is ...

• Loitering munitions

  HERO-900

  The HERO-900 is a lethal loitering system in the HERO series by UVision. It is capable of long-range multipurpose operations. This weapon system is designed ...

• Military UAS - MALE, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Collaborative Transformational Rotorcraft (CxR)

  Unveiled at AUSA 2025, the Collaborative Transformational Rotorcraft (CxR) is a tiltrotor rotary-wing UAV from Boeing.  The system has a modular core that can meet a range ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  StrykerX

  Unveiled at AUSA 2022, the StrykerX from General Dynamics Land Systems is the technology demonstrator for the next-generation Stryker vehicle family. Featuring a hybrid diesel-electric power ...

• Air: mission management systems

  iCommand 2.5

  The iCommand 2.5 is the latest version of the iCommand integrated command suite, designed by Textron Systems Advanced Information Solutions. The system has been designed ...