• Military Logistics

  RFA Tideforce arrives for customisation

  21st August 2018

  The Royal Navy’s fourth and final Tide-class tanker, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Tideforce, has arrived in Cornwall for customisation. The vessel’s customisation work will …

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy accepts future USS Charleston

  3rd September 2018

  The US Navy has accepted delivery of the eighth Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) the future USS Charleston during a ceremony at the Austal USA …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Boeing receives MQ-25 contract from US Navy

  3rd September 2018

  Boeing has received an $805 million contract to build the US Navy’s first operational carrier-based unmanned aircraft, the MQ-25 aerial refueller, the company announced on …

• Land Warfare

  Thai army inducts Skyguard AA system

  31st August 2018

  The Royal Thai Army (RTA) has accepted a new antiaircraft system into service, the Skyguard 3 fire control radar and 35mm Oerlikon twin-cannon GDF 007, …

• Naval Warfare

  PMSA’s largest patrol ship soon to arrive in Pakistan

  24th August 2018

  The Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) is set to imminently receive its largest OPV, the Chinese-built PMSS Kashmir, after it departed China on 26 July. …

• Military Logistics

  Lockheed receives eCASS contract

  7th September 2018

  Lockheed Martin has received a seven-year contract from the US Navy to build and deliver more than 200 Electronic Consolidated Automated Support Systems (eCASS) to …

• Digital Battlespace

  US Navy orders Rockwell Collins' MFMS-1000

  3rd September 2018

  Rockwell Collins has received a contract to assist a number of US Navy and US Marine Corps aircraft types obtain safety-critical Required Navigation Performance Area …

• Defence Helicopter

  DAC approves massive equipment procurement

  3rd September 2018

  India’s Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has approved procurement plans for the Indian Navy and Indian Army at a combined cost of $6.5 billion.Approved projects include …

• Naval Warfare

  Government watchdog agency punches holes in new USCG icebreaker programme

  5th September 2018

  US Coast Guard and US Navy leaders should re-evaluate the cost and development schedule for new Heavy Polar Icebreakers (HPIB), according to the government's watchdog …

• Defence Notes

  Congress poised to pass 2019 defence bill

  14th September 2018

  US House and Senate conferees emerged from behind closed doors with a compromise to fund the Pentagon with $674.4 billion next year, while padding missile …

• Naval Warfare

  HMCS Montreal docks for work period

  21st August 2018

  The Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN's) Halifax-class frigate, HMCS Montreal, has arrived at Irving Shipbuilding's Halifax Shipyard for a 53-week docking work period (DWP). The work …

• Naval Warfare

  USCG transfers decommissioned cutter to Sri Lanka

  6th September 2018

  The US Coast Guard (USCG) transferred the decommissioned high endurance cutter, the former USCG Sherman, to the Sri Lankan Navy at a ceremony in Honolulu …

• Military Logistics

  RAAF receives NIFTI for testing and evaluation

  31st August 2018

  The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has received a new Non-Intrusive Flight Test Instrumentation (NIFTI) kit that will reduce the downtime for aircraft, the Australian …

• 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 …

• Special Operations

  Change of command for Naval Special Warfare

  11th September 2018

  In change of command ceremonies held at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado on 7 September, Rear Adm. Collin Green relieved Rear Adm. Tim Szymanski as Commander, …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Loitering munitions

  Loitering Munition (Royal Navy) [UK]

  Background Persistent Operational Deployment Systems (PODS) As the Royal Navy stated in 2022, Persistent Operational Deployment Systems (PODS) are “interchangeable modules that can be fitted to ...

• Directed energy weapons

  Project Dragonfire [UK]

  Background The UK Government's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) has been working with MBDA, Leonardo and QinetiQ to develop a LASER Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW) called ...

• Military UAS - small

  T-150 (Royal Navy) [UK]

  Background Deployment On 7 April 2025, the Royal Navy announced that, for the first time, nine T-150 drones would be operated from the HMS Prince ...

• Land: air defence radar

  Lanza 3D Radar [Thailand]

  Background Thailand is procuring the LANZA 3D radar to strengthen surveillance and protection of Sattahip Naval Base. The radar will be deployed by the Royal ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Flexible Tactical Uncrewed Air System (FTUAS) [UK]

  Background Tender notice and timeline On 25 May 2021, the MoD published a tender notice for the urgent acquisition of a UAS and ancillaries under ...

• Military UAS - small

  Puma 3 AE (UK)

  Programme Background Testing The Royal Navy announced in October 2020 that the Puma was undergoing its first operational testing on HMS Albion's autumn deployment to ...

• Frigates

  Hamilton Class Cutter [Bahrain]

  Background Very little has been said about the transfer of an ex-Hamilton-class cutter to Bahrain, but it is one of the final two to leave ...

• Patrol boats

  Evolved Cape Class (1-6) [Australia]

  Programme Background Austal was awarded a contract to build six 'Evolved' Cape-class patrol boats for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) on 1 May 2020. The contract ...

• Patrol boats

  Evolved Cape Class (7-8) [Australia]

  Programme Background Austal was awarded a contract to build six 'Evolved'Cape-class patrol boats for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) on 1 May 2020 (see separate ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Boraida Class replacement [Saudi Arabia]

  Background Requirements The Royal Saudi Navy urges the replacement of three Boraida-class minehunters. Based on the Durance-class design, the ships entered service in the mid-1980s ...

• Minehunters

  Lat Ya Class Replacement Programme [Thailand]

  Programme Background Requirements The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) currently operates two Lat Ya-class minehunters, commissioned in the late 1990s. The units are based on the ...

• Frigates

  Air Defence Frigates Procurement [Denmark]

  Background Requirements After focusing on the procurement of new highly capable patrol ships and new Arctic frigates as a replacement for the Thetis-class, Shephard had initially estimated ...

• Frigates

  Karel Dorman Class (Chile)

  Programme Background  Chile currently operates two ex-Karel Doorman-class frigates which were sold in 2004. The Royal Netherlands Navy are in the process of replacing the ...

• Military UAS - small

  V-Bat [Netherlands]

  Background Contract award On 9 July 2025, Shield AI announced that the Netherlands MoD had acquired eight V-Bat aircraft, specifically the V-Bat 400, to enhance the maritime ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Multi-Role Support Ship (MRSS) (3) [Malaysia]

  Programme Background Requirements The Royal Malaysian Navy are in the process of a fleet transformation plan known as the 15 to 5 Transformation Plan, which ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Submarine-launched torpedoes

  Mk 48 Mod 7AT CBASS

  The MK 48 MOD 7 Common Broadband Advanced Sonar System (CBASS) is the latest variant of the Mk 48 torpedo family manufactured by Lockheed Martin and ...

• Military - UUVs

  XV Excalibur

  XV Excalibur is an Extra Large Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (XLUUV) built by UK-based MSubs, in conjunction with the Royal Navy. It is an experimental vessel ...

• Frigates

  Hunter Class (Type 26)

  The Hunter-class frigates for the Royal Australian Navy are based on the Type 26 design. The ships are set to replace the Anzac-class under the ...

• Sea: naval fire control radar

  Ceros 200

  The Ceros 200 is a radar and optronic tracking system designed for use on naval vessels. When interfaced with modern missile or gun systems, it ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  Royal Danish Navy MH-60R MOFT

  In January 2014, CAE was awarded an FMS contract by the USN to develop an MH-60R mission operational flight trainer (MOFT) for the Royal Danish ...

• Frigates

  Naresuan Class

  The Naresuan-class guided-missile frigates are a modified variant of the Chinese-built Type 053 frigate. The two ships-in-class were built by the China State Shipbuilding Corporation ...

• Destroyers

  River Class (Type 26)

  The Type 26 Anti-Submarine Warfare frigate has been designed for the UK Royal Navy, but with an emphasis on export. Both the Royal Canadian Navy ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  AN/SPY-7(V)1

  The AN/SPY-7(V)1 is a solid-state naval surveillance radar produced and manufactured by Lockheed Martin. The system is expected to be fully integrated into programmes for ...

• Frigates

  Jacob Van Heemskerck Class

  The Jacob van Heemskerck class frigates were ex-Royal Netherlands Navy frigates that also served under the Chilean Navy, also known as the Latorre-class. Two anti-aircraft warfare (AAW) ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Walrus

  The Walrus is a mini rotary-wing UAV manufactured by the Royal Navy's 700X Naval Air Squadron.  As stressed during the December 2022 announcement, Walrus has been ...

• Land: battlefield and ground surveillance radar

  RD-170BT

  The RD-170BT is a man-portable surveillance radar deployed ashore to protect moored patrol boats of the Royal Norwegian Navy. 

• Minehunters

  Sandown Class

  The Sandown class vessels are coastal minehunters and OPVs in service with the UK Royal Navy and Royal Saudi Naval Forces as the Al Jawf class. Additionally, ...

• Military - UUVs

  Mission Specialist Defender

  The Mission Specialist Defender is a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) developed by VideoRay, now part of BlueHalo's unmanned maritime systems. The ROV is known ...

• Frigates

  Type 22 (Batch 1)

  The Type 22 frigates were previously the Broadsword-class in service with the UK's Royal Navy. The vessels were built in three batches, with the first ...

• Sea: weapon training

  Inflatable Naval Gunnery Targets

  GeoData produces a range of Naval Gunnery Target Balloons (NavTGTs) for use by marine, navy, coast guard and army units to maintain target acquisition and ...