• Defence Notes

  Opinion: US-China military engagement proves a dead end

  20th February 2019

  In 2008 the USMC Commandant Gen James Conway visited the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy Marine Corps. He gave a pep talk along the lines …

• Land Warfare

  IDEX 2019: Hanwha’s Tigon 6x6 heads for Middle East demos

  21st February 2019

  Although South Korean Hanwha’s display centred on the gigantic tracked K9 155mm/52cal self-propelled howitzer it could be its 6x6 that is garnering attention in the …

• Training

  Collective training for British Army moves forward

  14th February 2019

  The British Army has now held its third market engagement day for its Collective Training Transformation Programme (CTTP). Launched at DSEI 2017 by Maj Gen …

• Defence Notes

  Trump signs 'Space Force' directive

  20th February 2019

  President Donald Trump signed an order on 19 February 2019 outlining his vision for a new ‘Space Force’ that could one day become a separate …

• Defence Notes

  India 'air strikes' send Pakistan tensions surging

  27th February 2019

  India said on 26 February 2019 it had launched air strikes against militant camps in Pakistan's territory, triggering international concern over a dangerous escalation between …

• Training

  Aero India 2019: HATSOFF plans move for new sim trainer

  24th February 2019

  Bangalore-based HATSOFF Helicopter Training, an HAL-CAE JV, is looking to expand its current offerings of full flight simulators (FFS). Currently, the company provides civil and …

• Training

  Leidos receives US Army training task order

  15th February 2019

  Leidos has received a task order from the US Army under a $37.4 billion Responsive Strategic Sourcing for Services contract vehicle, the company announced on …

• Military Logistics

  O’Gara Armoring receives US Army contract

  14th February 2019

  O’Gara Armoring has received a five- year IDIQ contract to produce armoured military components for the US Army, the company announced on 8 February. Under …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Avalon 2019: Kelpie chases service role in Australia

  26th February 2019

  The Kelpie multirole UGV, unveiled on 25 February at the Avalon Air Show, is expected to reach production standard in 2020. It will be developed …

• Defence Helicopter

  Avalon 2019: Rafael wants to Spike Australian helicopters and add SPICE

  1st March 2019

  Last August the Australian Army selected the Spike LR2 multipurpose missile for the Boxer 8x8 armoured vehicle under Land 400 Phase 2, and it has …

• Military Logistics

  New Zealand orders MAN wreckers

  15th February 2019

  To fill a capability gap, the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) will be adding a wrecker variant to its existing fleet of 194 MAN HX-series …

• Land Warfare

  GDLS receives Stryker fleet STS contract

  13th February 2019

  General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) has received a $402 million contract to provide systems technical support (STS) for the US Army’s Stryker Brigade Combat Team …

• Land Warfare

  Med-Eng’s bomb suit for US Army

  11th February 2019

  Med-Eng has received a four-year IDIQ contract to supply its second generation Advanced Bomb Suit (ABS II) to the US Army’s explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) …

• Land Warfare

  Sri Lanka shows off indigenous rocket launcher

  12th February 2019

  The Sri Lanka Army showcased its domestically designed multiple rocket launcher (MRL) during the nation’s Independence Day parade in the capital Colombo on 4 February. …

• Land Warfare

  India orders new SIG Sauer rifles

  13th February 2019

  The Indian Army will finally start receiving new small arms after a contract was signed with SIG Sauer in the US for 72,400 rifles of …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Loitering munitions

  Loitering Munitions [Spain]

  Programme Background Fuerza 35 Project This project is a Spanish Army initiative to create and maintain an effective force by forming flexible, cohesive operational organisations, highly ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | Small UAS [Spain]

  The Spanish Army examined the Russo-Ukrainian War in early 2024 and incorporated many learnings into its Fuerza 35 Project, a restructuring and procurement modernisation initiative. ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | Small UAS [Spain]

  The Spanish Army examined the Russo-Ukrainian War in early 2024 and incorporated many learnings into its Fuerza 35 Project, a restructuring and procurement modernisation initiative. ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Twister [Spain]

  Background Background Fuerza 35 Project This project is a Spanish Army initiative to create and maintain an effective force by forming flexible and cohesive operational ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  VCR (Batch 1) [Spain]

  Background Purpose The VCR programme is to replace several legacy wheeled and tracked vehicles currently in service with the Spanish Army, including the BMR-600 6x6, VEC-M1 ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  VCR (Batch 3) [Spain]

  Background Purpose The VCR programme is to replace several legacy wheeled and tracked vehicles currently in service with the Spanish Army, including the BMR-600 6x6, ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  VCR (Batch 2) [Spain]

  Background Purpose The VCR programme is to replace several legacy wheeled and tracked vehicles currently in service with the Spanish Army, including the BMR-600 6x6, ...

• Military UAS - micro

  X10D [Spain]

  Background Contract award On 27 May 2024, the Spanish Head of Economic Affairs of the Logistics Support Command issued a pre-tender announcement regarding the purchase ...

• Wheeled assault guns

  B1 Centauro Replacement [Spain]

  Background The Spanish Army entered the B1 Centauro into service between 2000 and 2006. Manufactured by the Italian Iveco and Oto Melara consortium CIO, the B1 ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Vector [Spain]

  Background Two tenders On 4 May 2025, Quantum Systems announced it had won two tenders from the Spanish Armed Forces to supply two different UAVs. According ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  VAMTAC ST5 (Batch 4) [Spain]

  Background The decision to acquire these vehicles comes within the wider context of the Spanish government announcing a significant increase in defence spending in order ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  VAMTAC ST5 (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) [Spain]

  Background The VAMTAC ST5 is already in Spanish service with the Spanish Army, Navy, and Air Force in various configurations. In June 2025, the Spanish ...

• Military UAS - mini

  AKILA [Spain]

  Background Contract award In October 2025, the Spanish Procurement Directorate of the Logistics Support Command of the Air and Space Force publicly issued a framework ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  VAMTAC ST5 (Batch 3) [Spain]

  Background The decision to acquire these vehicles comes within the wider context of the Spanish government announcing a significant increase in defence spending in order ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  VAMTAC ST5 (Batch 2) [Spain]

  Background The decision to acquire these vehicles comes within the wider context of the Spanish government announcing a significant increase in defence spending in order ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Heavy UGVs

  Valkyrie

  The Valkyrie is a 6x6 UGV developed by the Spanish company SASCorp. It was unveiled for the first time at FINDEF 2021. The platform has reportedly ...

• Towed guns

  SIAC 155mm/52cal

  The SIAC 155mm/52cal towed howitzer is the latest derivative of the 155mm/52cal APU SBT howitzer originally developed by GDELS-SBS in the 1990s to meet a ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Lantrek VMTT

  The Landtrek VMTT is an LTV developed by Spain's Iturri to provide logistical and support functions. The Spanish Army became the debut customer in July ...

• Land: RWS

  Guardian 2.0

  The Guardian 2.0 RWS is an upgraded version of Escribano's Guardian RWS in service with the Spanish Army, which offers improved sensors and better stabilisation. ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  ASCOD Common Base Platform

  GDELS unveiled a new variant of its tracked ASCOD (Austrian Spanish Cooperative Development) IFV based on the new Common Base Platform (CBP) at the June ...

• Land: vehicle simulators

  Leopard 2E Simulators

  Indra was prime contractor for the Spanish Army Leopard 2E Tank Simulation Programme, which involved 23 devices across driving, turret and platoon simulators with networking ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  VCR Dragon

  Having received a $2 billion order from the Spanish Army, the General Dynamics European Land Systems VCR Dragon 8x8 IFV is swiftly replacing the ageing BMR-600 6x6 ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Alcotán

  The Alcotán is a lightweight, hand-launched platform. Designed by USOL, the system features an aerial platform, autopilot and GCS. It is suitable for both civil ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Neton

  The 4x4 Neton Ultrafast Tactical Vehicle is manufactured by Spanish firm Einsa. It is an all-terrain, highly mobile and air-transportable SF platform. Following an evaluation ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  BMR-600

  The BMR-600 "Pegaso"  is a wheeled fully-amphibious 6x6 APC which began development in 1972. It was originally designed by Santa Barbara Sistemas which is now ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  ASCOD

  The Austrian Spanish Cooperative Development (ASCOD) I/CFV was developed to meet the joint requirements of the Austrian and Spanish armies for a medium-weight armoured vehicle ...

• Loitering munitions

  Q-SLAM-40

  The QLM-40, or Q-SLAM-40, is a multi-purpose loitering munition manufactured by Arquimea. It is launched from a pneumatic launcher, powered by an electric motor and contains an ISR payload ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Fulmar X

  The Fulmar X is a Thales UAV designed to carry out high-quality ISTAR missions for civil and military applications. A complete system comprises two UAVs, launch and recovery ...

• Individual assault/anti-tank weapons

  Alcotan-100

  The Alcotan-100 is a recoilless, shoulder-launched, antitank rocket launcher developed to meet a Spanish Army requirement, entering service in 2008. In 2014, the Peruvian Army ...

• Light machine guns

  MG4

  The 5.56mm MG4 has been in German Army service since 2005 and sold to at least five export customers, including the Spanish Army. The MG4 ...