• Defence Notes

  SDB II scores direct hit

  20th July 2012

  Raytheon's GBU-53/B Small Diameter Bomb II (SDB II) programme has successfully engaged and hit a moving target during a flight test at the White Sands Missile …

• Naval Warfare

  Nimitz first to test use of aviation biofuels

  19th July 2012

  The nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) was the first ship to receive and test the use of a new blend of hydro …

• Defence Helicopter

  Qatar gets ready for helicopter air-to-air combat

  17th July 2012

  Qatar may be looking to equip its next generation attack helicopter fleet with an air-to-air capability, it has emerged. In an unusual move – followed …

• Military Logistics

  Farnborough 2012: Snap-On displays new tool system

  13th July 2012

  Snap-On Industrial has showcased the fully Automated Tool Control (ATC) system for the first time in the UK at the Farnborough International Airshow. ATC serves …

• Military Logistics

  TechNet South 2012: Solar Stik reduces the logistical burden

  13th July 2012

  Florida-based Solar Stik used this week’s TechNet Land Forces – South venue to highlight their operational energy capabilities that have transitioned from solar and wind …

• Digital Battlespace

  TechNet South 2012: USSOCOM spotlights SOF C4 Enterprise

  10th July 2012

  United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) outlined its ‘Special Operations Forces C4 Enterprise’ at the TechNet Land Forces – South conference. John A. Wilcox, J6 …

• Digital Battlespace

  Farnborough 2012: Boeing signs Tucano coop agreement with Embraer

  10th July 2012

  Boeing has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Embraer for the former to provide weapon integration on the A-29 Super Tucano for the US …

• Naval Warfare

  Farnborough 2012: MBDA completes Sea Spear live firing

  10th July 2012

  MBDA has recently completed live firing trials of its new Brimstone Sea Spear missile system for anti-FIAC (fast inshore attack craft) applications. The system is …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Farnborough 12: MBDA looks to UAV future

  9th July 2012

  MBDA has launched the CVS301 Vigilus concept for the weaponisation of MALE UAVS. Speaking at a media briefing at the Farnborough International Airshow, Chris Allard, …

• Defence Notes

  Farnborough 2012: AFSOC begins gunship conversions

  9th July 2012

  The US Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) has begun the process of upgrading 16 MC-130J aircraft into AC-130J platforms with 'precision strike' packages for …

• Defence Notes

  Farnborough 2012: SPEAR penetrates the market

  9th July 2012

  MBDA is introducing its Selective Precision Effects at Range (SPEAR) Capability 3 offering for the first time at the Farnborough International Airshow. Speaking to a …

• Digital Battlespace

  SAIC wins contract for Vigilant Pursuit system

  6th July 2012

  Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) has announced that it has been awarded a prime contract by the US Army/Research Development and Engineering Command Intelligence and …

• Land Warfare

  US Army increases Kongsberg CROWS II contract value

  6th July 2012

  Kongsberg has announced that the US Army has issued it a contract modification that increases the company’s Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS) II frame …

• Land Warfare

  Kongsberg CROWS II contract extended

  4th July 2012

  Kongsberg has signed a contract modification with the US Army increasing the existing CROWS II frame contract by NOK 508 million for the purchase of …

• Land Warfare

  Lockheed Martin wins MLRS contract

  27th June 2012

  Lockheed Martin has announced that it has received a contract from the US Army for the first phase of a three-year development programme that will …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Destroyers

  Type 83 Future Air Defence System (FADS) [UK]

  Programme Background Requirements The Daring-class (Type 45) consists of six ships, although the original plan was to have 12 destroyers. This was cut to eight in ...

• Destroyers

  Next-Generation Large Surface Combatants (LSC) - DDG(X) [USN]

  Programme Background Requirements The US Navy (USN) is acknowledging a need to move away from the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer design, which is slowly outgrowing. Flight III ...

• Frigates

  European Combat Vessel [Spain]

  Programme Background Requirements The European Combat Vessel (ECV) is currently a conceptual project that seeks to design a European collaborative multi-mission, modular warship. As of ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• Data links

  Data links | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  In February 2025, Simon Harris, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste, emphasised the importance of acquiring a new combat fighter jet to address aerial ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Multi-Role Strike Ship (MRSS) Programme [UK]

  Programme Background Requirements According to the UK MoD's March 2021 Defence Command Paper, entitled 'Defence in a Competitive Age', the RN will invest in six ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A400M [Germany]

  Programme Background Germany originally said it would but 60 A400Ms, but when the program was re-baselined in 2010 reduced its planed off take to 53, ...

• Destroyers

  Sejong the Great Class (KDX-III) Batch 2 (1-3) [South Korea]

  Programme Background Requirements The Sejong the Great class (KDX-III) Batch 2 will consist of three improved Sejong the Great-class (KDX-III) batch 1 guided-missile destroyers, which ...

• Military UAS - mini

  U&C reconnaissance drones [US Army]

  Methodology PGO The programme has been assigned a PGO of 100%, as a contract has been awarded. Unit cost It has not been clarified what ...

• Corvettes

  Continental Defence Corvette [Canada]

  Background Initial requirements Under the second pillar of its shipbuilding strategy, Canada is seeking to procure an undisclosed number of small vessels (below 1000t). Part ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Landing Platform Docks [India]

  Programme Background Requirements The LPD tender, although more akin to an LHD, specifies that the quartet of ships must be built within India, although collaboration ...

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

  Alpha 900 [Uruguay]

  Background Acqustiion In October 2022, the Alpha 900 from Alpha Unmanned Systems was reportedly jointly purchased by the Uruguayan state energy company UTE and the ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Fractl:2

  Fractl:2, developed and manufactured by AIM Defence, is an Australian laser directed energy weapon (LDEW). The high-powered portable system is Australia's first acquisition of a directed ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Apollo

  Apollo is a High-Energy Laser Weapon System manufactured by Electro Optic Systems (EOS). Apollo's laser utilises directed energy to disable or destroy aerial targets without ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  DIAL

  The Laser Weapon Instrumental Demonstrator (DIAL), in joint development with Indra and Escribano Mechanical Engineering, is a Spanish laser directed energy weapon (LDEW). The system ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Minotaur

  Minotaur, developed by Soukos Robots, is a Greek laser directed energy weapon (LDEW). Minotaur is an anti-drone platform with the ability to shoot down unmanned ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Italian LDEW (Leonardo/MBDA)

  As announced in December 2024, Leonardo and MBDA are collaborating to produce a Fire Unit Laser Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW) for the Italian Navy. The ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons, Self-propelled guns, Self-propelled missile systems

  SkyRanger 30

  SkyRanger 30 is a mobile ground-based air defence (GBAD) laser directed energy weapon (LDEW) system designed by Rheinmetall. The system comprises automatic cannons, guided missiles, and a ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  CROSSBOW MINI

  CROSSBOW MINI, developed by IPG Photonics, is a laser-directed energy weapon (LDEW). The LDEW has multiple deployable configurations and is a part of the manufacturers ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Archimedes

  Archimedes, developed by Aurelius Systems, is a laser-directed energy weapon designed to stop drones at scale. The system is still in development, though Aurelius received ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  ALKA-KAPLAN

  ALKA-KAPLAN is a collaborative effort between Turkish manufacturers ROKETSAN and FNSS. The system is a mobile armoured anti-drone system, which integrates the ALKA directed energy-weapon ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  German LDEW (Rheinmetall/MBDA)

  Rheinmetall and MBDA Germany's collaborative work on laser-directed energy weapon (LDEW) technology has resulted in a German laser weapon system that is close to being ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Guorong-1 Anti Drone System

  Guorong-1 is an anti-drone system developed by China. The system is jointly developed by the Chinese Electronics Technology Group (CETG), Guorong Technology, and the Chinese public ...

• Counter-UAS systems

  DroneDefender

  DroneDefender is a directed-energy UAS countermeasure that disrupts the adversary's control of the aircraft, neutralising it so that no remote action (including detonation) can occur, ...

• Destroyers

  Flight III Destroyer

  During Indo Pacific 2023, Navantia Australia unveiled a 10200t destroyer design. Dubbed as Flight III Destroyer, the Spanish shipbuilder is pitching the ship for the ...

• Counter-UAS systems

  MEHEL 2.0

  The Mobile Expeditionary High-Energy Laser (MEHEL) is a C-UAS-capable vehicle that employs directed energy to neutralise targets. MEHEL 2.0 was first seen at AUSA 2016, ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  SCATA Mk1

  The SCATA Mk1 is the first military vehicle developed by Finland's SCATA.