• Defence Helicopter

  Farnborough 2018: More Merlin magic for the UK (video)

  9th July 2018

  With RNAS Yeovilton recently receiving the first of 25 Commando Merlin Mk4/A helicopters, Shephard spoke with Lt Tom Lennon, CHF pilot and Graham Russell, director …

• Training

  Inzpire opens new training academy

  9th July 2018

  Inzpire has established a new training academy to provide training solutions for both military and civilian customers. The company has created a suite of off …

• Training

  Farnborough 2018: German personnel training for Heron TP to begin soon

  18th July 2018

  Fresh from the confirmation that the German armed forces will indeed operate the Heron TP UAV – despite protests by US-based General Atomics (GA-ASI) over …

• Naval Warfare

  BAE Systems begins investigations into Forth issues

  23rd June 2018

  Investigations are being carried out by BAE Systems to identify the causes of defects identified onboard the UK’s new Royal Navy Batch 2 OPV. As …

• Naval Warfare

  Russian Navy’s Alexander Evlanov floated out

  4th July 2018

  The Russian Navy’s new major hydrographic boat (MHB), Alexander Evlanov, has been floated out at the Nizhegorodsky Teplohod Shipyard, the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced …

• Naval Warfare

  Russian Navy to receive new catamarans

  6th July 2018

  KAMPO has received a three-year contract to build new hydrographic boats for the Russian Navy under the project 23370G, the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) …

• Training

  Inzpire human factors training for UK MFTS

  2nd July 2018

  Inzpire has received a new contract to continue providing airmanship and human factors training to ab-initio students in the UK Military Flying Training System, the …

• Defence Helicopter

  Issues surface over UK's Crowsnest programme

  6th July 2018

  The UK's Crowsnest surveillance programme has been hit by a number of industry development challenges, according to an official assessment.  A Ministry of Defence (MoD) …

• Digital Battlespace

  Farnborough 2018: RAF shakes up air and space intelligence

  12th July 2018

  The RAF has announced that it is to establish a multi-domain air and space operations service - under the umbrella Group 11 - which will …

• Digital Battlespace

  Vendors await delayed Indian RfP for SDRs

  4th July 2018

  An RfP for assorted software-defined radios (SDR) for the Indian Army is still awaited after suffering an indefinite delay. The deadline for two separate RfI …

• Defence Notes

  Opinion: Winds of change in Whitehall

  20th June 2018

  Change is afoot in Whitehall, as Air Chief Marshal Stuart Peach hands over as chief of the defence staff (CDS) to General Nick Carter. This …

• Defence Helicopter

  Sri Lanka eyes helicopter fleet modernisation

  13th July 2018

  According to local media reports, the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) harbours ambitions to acquire helicopters and UAVs worth up to LKR64.8 billion ($414.7 million). …

• Naval Warfare

  Spain requests Aegis weapon systems

  29th June 2018

  The US State Department has made a determination approving a potential foreign military sale of five Aegis weapon systems to Spain, the Defense Security Cooperation …

• Defence Helicopter

  Farnborough 2018: Lightweight Multirole Missiles to deal with swarm attacks

  9th July 2018

  Thales sees a growing international rotary-wing market for its Lightweight Multirole Missile (LMM), driven by the threat from fast inshore attack craft (FIAC).   Thales was …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Protector set to arrive in UK next month

  27th June 2018

  The UK Royal Air Force’s incoming Protector RG Mk.1 UAS is expected to make an appearance at this year’s Royal International Air Tattoo, with the …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - rotary-wing

  FPV & Attack Drones (Ukraine Aid) [UK & Norway]

  Background £450 million On 11 April 2025, the UK MoD announced a £450 million package for Ukraine, which included £350 million from the UK from this ...

• Loitering munitions

  Altius 600M & Altius 700M (Ukraine Aid) [UK]

  Programme Background Anduril On 6 March 2025, the UK MoD and John Healey, the Secretary of State for Defence, announced a package to help counter Russia's aggression against ...

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

  AR3 (Ukraine Aid) [UK]

  Background £270 Million investment On 15 September 2025, the UK MoD noted that, since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the UK ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Multi-Role Vehicle (Protected) (MRV-P) Package 1 (UK)

  Programme Background Requirement The MRV-P programme was intended to procure replacements for a diverse fleet of 4x4 and 6x6 vehicles purchased during the wars in Iraq ...

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

  30,000 FPV Drones (Ukraine Aid) [UK]

  Programme Background IDCC On 9 January 2025, the UK MoD announced that 30,000 FPV drones would be sent to Ukraine after the awarding of £45 million ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Fleet Solid Support (FSS) (1-3) [UK]

  Programme Background Requirement The 2015 Strategic Defence & Security Review (SDSR) highlighted the requirement for three Military Afloat Reach & Sustainability (MARS) Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ...

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

  Project Tiquila [UK]

  Programme Background Tender Notice On 18 September 2020, the MoD Combat Air Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) Team published a tender notice for a system integrator ...

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

  First Person View (FPV) Drones (Ukraine Aid) [UK]

  Programme Background 2024/2025 Military Aid Package On 12 January 2024, the UK government announced it would provide Ukraine with £2.5 billion ($3.2 billion) in military ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Land Mobility Programme (Light Mobility Vehicle) [UK]

  This programme briefly introduces the wider Land Mobility Programme and then focuses on the Light Mobility Vehicle (LMV) programme. Information on the LPM and HPM can ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  New Medium Helicopter (NMH) [UK]

  Programme Background NMH Market Interest Day On 11 November 2021, the MoD communicated the requirements of the £1 billion ($1.34 billion) New Medium Helicopter (NMH) ...

• Fighter - naval

  F-35B [United Kingdom]

  Programme Background The total cost of the currently funded programme as reported through the UK Major Projects Report is expected to be £10.5 billion ($13.5 ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Global Combat Air Programme [UK]

  Programme Background The next-generation platform concept is part of the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review, which sought to deliver a Future Combat Air System ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | AUKUS-SSNs/SSN(R) Astute Replacement Programme [UK]

  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has begun the planning process for the Astute class replacement programme referred to as SSN-Replacement (SSN(R)). In September 2021, it was announced ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | AUKUS-SSNs/SSN(R) Astute Replacement Programme [UK]

  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has begun the planning process for the Astute class replacement programme referred to as SSN-Replacement (SSN(R)). In September 2021, it was announced ...

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

  Protector RG1 [UK]

  Background Programme Goal The programme aims to replace the MQ-9A Reapers in the RAF's inventory until they are formally retired in October 2025. The MQ-9B will deliver a UK ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Major networking projects

  Project Marshall

  The Joint Military Air Traffic Services project was initiated by the UK MoD in November 2005 to identify and evaluate options for the future delivery ...

• Light UGVs

  T7

  The T7 is a multi-mission robotic system designed for military, police and hazardous missions. At DSEI 2017, the UK MoD awarded the Harris Corporation a ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  DragonFire

  DragonFire is a laser weapon system built for the UK MoD and manufactured by a consortium of manufacturers. The primary manufacturer is MBDA, though they ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  ASTOR FBFCT

  The Fixed Base Flight Crew Trainer (FBFCT) is a Level 5+ FTD for the UK RAF’s Airborne Standoff Radar (ASTOR) platform. The ASTOR FBFCT is ...

• Air-launched ASW torpedoes, Ship-launched torpedoes

  Sting Ray

  The Sting Ray Mod 1 is an air- and surface-launched, lightweight ASW torpedo. It can be deployed from frigates, helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft against ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Warthog

  The Warthog is based on the ST Kinetics Bronco all terrain tracked carrier (ATTC) and was developed to meet a UK MoD urgent operational requirement ...

• Standalone Field Generator

  HGI is a supplier of standalone field generators to the UK MoD. It has supplied systems for communications, C2, field hospitals and workshop facilities. The ...

• 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

  DTT

  Raytheon UK is working with the UK MoD to deliver a Defence Targeting Toolset (DTT) capability. Aimed initially at land operations and eventually extending to ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  RFA Proteus (Vard 3 08)

  RFA Proteus serves as the launchpad for remotely operated vehicles and is the newest UK seabed warfare vessel. The ship, bought by the UK MoD as MV ...

• 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 ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  UK MFTS

  The Military Flying Training System (MFTS) programme, is a private finance initiative involving the MoD and Ascent, a JV of Lockheed Martin and Babcock, which was ...

• Air-to-surface missiles

  SPEAR 3

  The Selective Precision Effects At Range (SPEAR) Capability 3 is being developed by MBDA for the UK MoD, which is seeking a new missile for ...

• Trucks and utility vehicles - 6x6

  Wheeled Tanker

  The Oshkosh Wheeled Tanker is a high-performance tactical vehicle, designed and built for the UK MoD in order to replace the existing fleet of legacy ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  UK MSHATF

  The Medium Support Helicopter Aircrew Training Facility (MSHATF) opened for training at RAF Benson, England in July 1999. It provides training services to personnel from ...