• Defence Notes

  Trump's nuclear policy may spark arms race

  25th January 2018

  The US DoD is set to unveil US president Donald Trump's nuclear policy next week, and critics are already warning it could trigger another arms …

• Digital Battlespace

  ETSO certification for Thales’ ADU 3208

  17th January 2018

  Thales’ Air Data Unit (ADU) 3208 has achieved European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification, the company announced on 12 January. The ADU 3208 has received …

• Military Logistics

  SHOT Show 2018: Pelican Showcases New Log Tech

  25th January 2018

  Pelican is showcasing a range of new tactical and logistics technologies at this week’s SHOT Show.  For example, the company has enhanced its well-known Pelican …

• Digital Battlespace

  Lockheed demos Aegis Ashore solution

  16th January 2018

  Lockheed Martin has demonstrated the ability to increase operational performance, efficiency and reliability of Aegis Ashore by connecting key components of Aegis Ashore and Long …

• Land Warfare

  SHOT Show: FN details 7.62mm SCAR-SC development

  25th January 2018

  FN Herstal expects to offer a larger 7.62mm calibre version of its SCAR subcompact carbine (SC) by this summer. Speaking at this year’s SHOT Show …

• Special Operations

  SHOT Show 2018: Profense looks to expand product line

  24th January 2018

  While not exhibiting on the conference floor, Profense LLC used the SHOT Show 2018 gathering to brief a range of current and potential clients on …

• Training

  China invited to participate in US-led naval exercise

  25th January 2018

  China has been invited to participate in a major US-led naval exercise, Chinese officials said on 25 January. The Chinese military took part in the …

• Land Warfare

  Japan orders another Bushmaster quartet

  23rd January 2018

  The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) is awaiting delivery of four additional Thales Bushmaster 4x4 protected mobility vehicles later this year. A Thales Australia spokesperson …

• Defence Notes

  ​Analysis: Confusion over S-400 deal for China

  23rd January 2018

  There was confusion over last week’s announcement that deliveries had begun of the Russian-built Almaz-Antei S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile (SAM) system to China. Reports that …

• Military Logistics

  USS Fitzgerald arrives for repairs

  23rd January 2018

  The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald has arrived in Pascagoula, Mississippi, for repair and upgrade work.USS Fitzgerald arrived aboard heavy lift vessel MV …

• Defence Notes

  ADECS 2018: South Korea harbours nuclear submarine ambitions

  31st January 2018

  South Korea is airing ambitions to form a nuclear-powered submarine (SSN) fleet and the eventual commissioning of such boats is being described as ‘politically inevitable’. …

• Defence Helicopter

  Keeping it cool for FVL

  9th January 2018

  An open architecture cooling standard for use with COTS VPX modules, known as ANSI/VITA 48.8, could soon be applied to the next-generation of aircraft, including Future …

• Land Warfare

  Russia's Central MD unit receives Aistyonok system

  19th January 2018

  The Russian Army Central Military District's (MD) 90th Tank Division in Ural has deployed the portable Aistyonok radar reconnaissance and fire control system, the Russian …

• Defence Notes

  North Korea preparing for military parade

  18th January 2018

  North Korea is preparing a huge display of its military strength in a parade on the eve of 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea, it …

• Defence Notes

  US defends false missile alert

  15th January 2018

  On 14 January, a top US official defended government early-warning systems after a false missile alert terrified Hawaii, in what was called an epic failure …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  Rafale [France]

  Programme Background Rafale F4 is the latest configuration of the Rafale fighter jet family. New functions will also be developed to improve the aircraft’s capabilities ...

• ISR/special mission

  ISTAR Aircraft (South Korea)

  Programme Background South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration stated that Seoul is planning to procure additional aircraft to minimize potential surveillance gaps amid growing security ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  MH-60R [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirement The RAN already has 24 MH-60R Seahawks (the last delivered in September 2016), so this represents a 50% increase in fleet size. ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Project Sea 129 Phase 5 [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirement Project Sea 129 Phase 5 was intended to acquire a new ISR UAS capability for the RAN. The aircraft was required to perform ...

• Landing craft and hovercraft

  Littoral Manoeuvre Vessel - Medium (Project Land 8710 Phase 1A) [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirements Australia has set out requirements for a fleet of up to 18 Littoral Manoeuvre Vessels - Medium (LMV-M) with the release of ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing

  VTOL UAV [New Zealand]

  Background Defence Capability Plan (DCP) In April 2025, the New Zealand government published the DCP, a document that is essentially a blueprint for what procurements ...

• ISR/special mission

  E-6 TACAMO Recapitalisation Programme (E-130J) [USN]

  Programme Background The E-6 Take Charge and Move Out (TACAMO) Recapitalisation Programme (E-XX) provides for air vehicle replacement and mission systems modernization to augment and eventually ...

• Loitering munitions

  Launched Effects-Short Range (LE-SR) [US]

  Background Goal The Army sees LE-SR as a family of systems consisting of an air vehicle, effects payload, mission system applications, and associated support equipment ...

• Main battle tanks

  M1A2T Abrams [Taiwain]

  Programme Background Taiwan has had a long-standing desire to attain M1A1 or M1A2 Abrams from the US in order to replace elderly M60A3 TTS and CM11 ...

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

  MQ-9A Reaper Block 5 [Italy]

  Programme Background Initial Procurement Italy submitted a $330 million FMS request through the Defence Security Cooperation Agency for four MQ-9A aircraft, four GCS and five ...

• ISR/special mission

  MC-27J [Algeria]

  Programme Background Algeria has a long standing ISR aircraft requirement to support its Beech 1900 fleet comprised of six aircraft. The new ISR fleet is ...

• Submarines nuclear, ballistic missile

  Dreadnought Class (Successor Programme) (1-4) [UK]

  Programme Background Requirements The Dreadnought-class, prior to being named in October 2016, was known as the Successor programme, which was approved by the government in May ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Runway Independent Maritime & Expeditionary Strike (RIMES) [US]

  Background Problem In February 2026, the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) posted a solicitation that outlined a problem: the growing threat posed by long-range anti-ship weapons ...

• Destroyers

  DDX Programme (1-2) [Italy]

  Programme Background Requirements Destroyers are fundamental to Italy's blue water fleet and will be required to be capable of projecting capability at sea from the ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Tornado Replacement (F-35A) [Germany]

  Programme Background In March 2020, it emerged that the German government was considering  30 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets to replace 45 nuclear-capable Tornados, although contracts have yet ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Surface-to-air missiles

  SM-2 Block IIIC/Block IIICU

  The SM-2 Block IIIC and Block IIICU are medium-range, surface-to-air missiles with active radio frequency seekers. Both missiles are modifications to legacy SM-2 Block III/IIIA/IIIB ...

• Man-portable missile systems

  FIM-92 Stinger

  The FIM-92 Stinger, passive-guided MANPADS, was developed by General Dynamics to meet the requirements of the US Army to defence against low-flying threats. It replaced ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  ESTL

  The Enhanced Survivability Technology (ESTL) is an integrated self-protection pod with missile approach warning (MAWS) manufactured by Saab. It is designed to counter RF and IR ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  SkyCeptor

  The SkyCeptor missile is a multi-mission interceptor developed collaboratively by Raytheon and Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. It is a derivative of the Stunner missile ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  SM-1MR Block VI

  The RIM-66 Standard-1MR is a medium-range surface-to-air missile that can also take on the role of an anti-ship missile. It was developed as part of ...

• Multipurpose missiles

  BGM-71 TOW

  The BGM-71 Tube-launched Optically tracked Wire-guided (TOW) missile entered US Army service in 1970. As well as being integrated on vehicles and helicopters, TOW can be ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) Block 2

  The RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) Block 2 is a short-range, ship-launched missile designed primarily to defend naval vessels against incoming anti-ship missiles and aerial ...

• Surface-to-air missiles, Surface-to-surface missiles

  RIM-174 Standard ERAM SM-6 Block I/IA

  The SM-6 (RIM-174 Standard ERAM) is a surface-to-air supersonic missile launched from cruisers and destroyers, capable of successfully engaging crewed and uncrewed, fixed- or rotary-wing ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  AN/SPY-3

  The AN/SPY-3 is a multifunction naval radar developed and manufactured by Raytheon. Its intended uses include horizon and surface search, navigation, periscope detection, discrimination, and ...

• Sea: weapon training

  SM-1 and SM-2 Standard Missile and Harpoon Missile with Guided Missile Launcher Mk 13 Mod 4 Simulator

  Textron's SM-1 and SM-2 Standard Missile and Harpoon Missile simulator simulates a guided missile launching system and guided missile launcher, Mk 13 Mod 4, in ...

• Sea: ship surveillance and fire control systems

  MK 99

  The MK 99 is a fire control system developed and produced by Raytheon.  The system works as an interface to connect a vessel's missiles and ...

• Land: air defence radar

  LTAMDS

  The Raytheon Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense System (LTAMDS) is an active electronically scanned array Gallium Nitrade (GaN) radar. The use of GaN strengthens ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) Block 2

  The Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM) Block 2 is an advanced ship-launched surface-to-air missile developed by the NATO SeaSparrow Consortium. Building upon the capabilities of its predecessor, ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming, Air: EO/IR – Jamming Systems

  Quiet Eyes

  Quiet Eyes is a laser DIRCM system, manufactured by Raytheon. The pointer/tracker turret system protects aircrafts from IR-guided missiles by jamming the missile, directing the threat away ...

• Long Range Missile Defence Systems: > 90km range

  Mk-57 VLS

  The Mk 57 Vertical Launching System (VLS), developed by Raytheon, is an advanced missile launching system designed to enhance the offensive and defensive capabilities of ...