• Defence Notes

  Opinion: Decisions beckon after UK summer holidays

  9th August 2018

  August is traditionally a sleepy period, as the UK government takes a breather and staff disappear for holidays. The flow of news dries up and …

• Naval Warfare

  HMS Queen Elizabeth to begin F-35B trials

  22nd August 2018

  The Royal Navy's aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth has departed for the US to carry out flight trials with F-35B fighter jets, the UK Ministry …

• Land Warfare

  Russia rolls out the big guns

  24th August 2018

  Two new weapons platforms sporting a powerful 57mm turret were unveiled to the public for the first time at Army-2018 defence exhibition held in Kubinka …

• Defence Helicopter

  Russia to get SOF/medevac-equipped Mi-8s

  30th August 2018

  The Russian MoD is interested in the procurement of an upgraded Mi-8 derivative dubbed the Mi-8AMTSh-VN for supporting operations of the country’s growing SOF community, …

• Naval Warfare

  Royal Navy accepts Thales sonar

  24th August 2018

  The Royal Navy has accepted Thales UK’s new 2093 mine countermeasures sonar after the successful completion of sea trials on HMS Grimsby, Thales announced on …

• Land Warfare

  Land Forces 2018: Quartet of IFV contenders emerges

  6th September 2018

  Four OEMs made their presence felt as potential candidates for Australia’s latent Project Land 400 Phase 3 that is worth a lucrative A$10-15 billion ($7.2-10.8 …

• Defence Helicopter

  Mi-26TV2 kicks-off flight testing

  28th August 2018

  The Mi-26T2V, a heavy helicopter for the Russian Army Aviation branch, was unveiled to the public for the first time at the Army 2018 defence …

• Digital Battlespace

  MASS develops new cloud-based network capability

  20th August 2018

  Cohort company MASS has developed a new military-grade cloud-based network capability that includes office functionality, messaging, private secured intranet, video calling and secured software, all …

• Defence Helicopter

  UK helicopter manufacturing sits at a political crossroads

  14th August 2018

  As the UK’s parliament is in the midst of its annual summer recess, now is the time to take stock and see through the political …

• Naval Warfare

  SEA looks to Japanese shipbuilding programmes

  14th August 2018

  Cohort company SEA has taken part in a UK Defence Services Industry Day in Tokyo as it targets opportunities within Japanese shipbuilding programmes. On board …

• Training

  First phase of Worthy Down redevelopment complete

  31st July 2018

  The UK Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and Skanska have completed work on the first phase of a redevelopment project at Worthy Down camp in Hampshire, …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Russia funds robotic main battle tanks

  14th August 2018

  Russian armoured vehicle manufacturer Uralvagonzavod Corporation (UVZ) has announced plans to develop assault robotic platforms based on the Russian T-72B3 tank chassis. A Russian Ministry …

• Defence Helicopter

  German heavy-lift tender under scrutiny

  16th August 2018

  The German Federal Ministry of Defence (MoD) has insisted that its heavy-lift helicopter tender schedule remains unchanged, despite reports that the programme could be delayed …

• Digital Battlespace

  QinetiQ to support delivery of BATCIS to UK

  30th July 2018

  QinetiQ has received a three year contract with options to extend for a further two years, worth up to £95 million ($124 million) to support …

• Naval Warfare

  Back to the drawing board for Type 31e project

  24th July 2018

  While the UK continues to pop the champagne over its Australia success with BAE Systems' Type 26 design win, the programme for the smaller Type …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Loitering munitions

  Nyan OWE [UK]

  Background Transparency notice On 13 February 2026, the UK MoD published a transparency notice concerning OWE Nyan, specifically, the procurement of OWE drones for operational ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

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

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

• 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 ...

• Loitering munitions

  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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 - mini

  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 - mini

  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 ...

• Military UAS - micro

  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 ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  New Medium Helicopter (NMH) [UK]

  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) programme ...

• 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 ...

• Fighter - naval

  F-35B [UK]

  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 ...

• Transport

  Command Support Air Transport Recapitalisation [UK]

  Programme Background The tender, originally released on 28 October 2021, required industry bidders to put forward aircraft that can achieve a minimum unrefuelled range of ...

• 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 ...

• Loitering munitions

  Project Brakestop [UK]

  Background Information notice On 25 September 2024, the UK MoD published a prior information notice for Project Brakestop, informing industry of the upcoming competition. Requirements ...

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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Air-launched ASW torpedoes, Ship-launched torpedoes

  Sting Ray Mod 1

  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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Loitering munitions

  Dart 250

  The Dart 250 is a jet-powered One Way Effect (OWE) with a range of 250 km and a maximum speed of 400 km/h. According to reports, the Dart ...

• 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 ...

• Data links

  AN/URC-138

  The AN/URC-138 is a Link 16 interoperable terminal originally developed for the Sea Harrier. It has the same Link 16 crypto as JTIDS/MIDS. The system ...