• Naval Warfare

  Turkish naval EO system finds its sea legs

  13th May 2020

  Aselsan has completed factory acceptance tests for the first two SeaEye Ahtapot EO reconnaissance and surveillance systems. Designed specifically for maritime applications, Ahtapot is the …

• Land Warfare

  Canadian DND confirms initial delivery of the ACSV for this year

  1st June 2020

  Canada confirmed the initial deliveries of the Armoured Combat Support Vehicle (ACSV) for late 2020 as the country continues its effort to enhance the protection …

• Land Warfare

  Canadian DND confirms initial delivery of the ACSV for this year

  1st June 2020

  Canada confirmed the initial deliveries of the Armoured Combat Support Vehicle (ACSV) for late 2020 as the country continues its effort to enhance the protection …

• Air Warfare

  Northrop Grumman continues AARGM production for USN

  23rd April 2020

  Northrop Grumman, on 23 April, secured a $165 million contract for Lot 9 full rate production of the AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) for …

• Training

  PLAN to hold exercises in Bohai Bay

  13th May 2020

  The PLAN will hold naval exercises between 14 May and 31 July, according to the website of the Maritime Safety Administration of the People’s Republic …

• Defence Notes

  Embraer defence business feels COVID-19 pain

  2nd June 2020

  Despite Brazilian manufacturer Embraer making steady progress on key military programmes including the A-29 Super Tucano light attack and KC-390 tactical transport aircraft, the company’s …

• Training

  RN issues RfI for command and staff trainer

  7th May 2020

  The RN has issued an RfI for a Maritime Command and Staff Trainer (MCAST), with responses from industry due by 29 May 2020. Issued by …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Israel to lease Heron UAVs to Greece

  6th May 2020

  As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to Premium News subscribers, our curated content provides the latest industry news, contract awards and programme …

• Naval Warfare

  US special forces receive Dry Combat Submersible

  22nd April 2020

  US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has accepted the first Dry Combat Submersible (DCS) from Lockheed Martin with a Lithium-ion Fault Tolerant (LiFT) battery system from …

• Air Warfare

  COVID-19 poses practical and strategic questions for US air power

  5th May 2020

  The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic has changed just about everything, including US air power. The effects are likely to be felt for years, including a downturn …

• Naval Warfare

  Lockheed Martin to provide MK41 VLS components

  24th April 2020

  Lockheed Martin has secured a $147.64 million undefinitised contract modification for the procurement of MK 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) vertical launcher module electronic components. …

• Defence Notes

  COVID-19 ripple effects cause lasting strategic headaches

  12th May 2020

  The 75th anniversary of VE Day on 8 May marked the end of the Second World War in Europe. The intervening years have seen the continent …

• Digital Battlespace

  Cambridge Pixel enhances SPx Tracking Server

  13th May 2020

  Cambridge Pixel has added dual redundancy to its SPx Tracking Server to support high-reliability radar tracking, the UK-based company stated on 13 May. The upgrade …

• Special Operations

  SOF identifies logistics R&D priorities

  17th May 2020

  US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has developed a list of R&D; priorities to facilitate expeditionary logistics operations across future tactical environments. Several priority categories were …

• Defence Helicopter

  Canadian CH-148 loses contact in Mediterranean

  30th April 2020

  The Canadian Armed Forces Operations reported on 29 April that a CH-148 Cyclone (H-92) aircraft lost contact with the HMCS Fredericton whilst partaking in exercises …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - HALE

  MQ-4C Triton (28-68) [USN]

  Background Requirement The MQ-4C Triton programme, developed under the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) programme, required an uncrewed system to provide persistent, broad-area intelligence, surveillance ...

• Military UAS - MALE, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  MQ-8C Fire Scout (USA)

  Programme Background Timeline According to the Naval Air Systems Command, having first ordered the MQ-8B in 2009, the UAV has become a pillar of the ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Medium Landing Ship (1-10) [USMC]

  Programme Background Development As part of the US Marine Corps' future force structure, it is developing a new platform under the Medium Lading Ship programme ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Medium Landing Ship (11-33) [USMC]

  Programme Background Requirements As part of the US Marine Corps' future force structure, it is developing a new platform under the Medium Lading Ship programme ...

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

  Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Unmanned Expeditionary (MUX) (Increment 1) [USMC]

  Programme Background All-in-One UAV Since 2016, the USMC has wished to acquire a UAV that could be deployed from a vessel, be used for various missions, ...

• Military UAS - HALE

  MQ-4C Triton (1-27) [USN]

  Background Requirement The MQ-4C Triton programme, developed under the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) programme, required an uncrewed system to provide persistent, broad-area intelligence, surveillance ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Medium Range/Medium Endurance (MR/ME) [USMC]

  Programme Background Force Design 2030 The USMC Force Design 2030 is a modernisation effort to create a lighter, more agile maritime force. The update to ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  HH-60W - Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH)

  Background In 2010, the USAF announced the replacement of the HH-60G with a new Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH), and in 2012, the request for proposals ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | Future Vertical Lift Maritime Strike (FVL-MS) [USA]

  The Future Vertical Lift Maritime Strike (FVL-MS) programme seeks to develop and acquire a family of systems, including crewed and uncrewed aircraft, to replace rotary life aircraft ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | Future Vertical Lift Maritime Strike (FVL-MS) [USA]

  The Future Vertical Lift Maritime Strike (FVL-MS) programme seeks to develop and acquire a family of systems, including crewed and uncrewed aircraft, to replace rotary life aircraft ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Future Vertical Lift Maritime Strike (FVL-MS) [USA]

  Programme Background Requirement The FVL-MS programme seeks to develop and acquire a family of systems, including crewed and uncrewed aircraft, to replace rotary life aircraft utilised ...

• Military UAS - small

  Long Range/Long Endurance (LR/LE) [USMC]

  Background Force Design 2030 The USMC Force Design 2030 is a modernisation effort to create a lighter, more agile maritime force. The update to the ...

• 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 ...

• Military UAS - small

  RQ-21A Blackjack / STUASLO - Replacement Units (USN)

  Programme Background Joint USN and USMC Procurment The RQ-21 Blackjack, or STUALSO, was a combined United States Navy (USN) and United States Marine Corps (USMC) programme ...

• Military - USVs

  MUSV [USN]

  Programme Background Requirements In March 2026, the US announced it would be replacing its Modular Attack Surface Craft (MASC) programme with a Medium Uncrewed Surface ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Landing craft and hovercraft

  SECAT

  In 2022, Textron Systems unveiled its new Surface Effect Cargo Amphibious Transport (SECAT) craft, designed to support logistics behind the US Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations and ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  MH-53E Sea Dragon

  Sikorsky developed the MH-53E (S-80) Sea Dragon variant of its CH-53E to provide the USN with a dedicated airborne mine countermeasures helicopter. Equipped with enlarged ...

• Air: Integrated cockpit systems

  Tactical Mission System for Helicopter Applications

  The Saab tactical mission system is a system for transport, utility, C2 and combat helicopters intended to operate in a net-centric environment. It is designed ...

• Major networking projects

  CANES

  The Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services (CANES) programme is a USN-wide effort to rationalise shipboard computing assets. It is designed to create a common ...

• Air: UAV simulators

  MQ-9 MTD

  SDS’s ROVATTS-based MQ-9 Mission Training Device (MTD) was developed to provide high-fidelity simulation to support US Air National Guard operational Reaper crew training. The PC-based ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  MQ-8C Fire Scout

  The MQ-8C is a newer version of the Fire Scout and is based on a Bell 407 commercial helicopter. It offers a greater range, endurance and ...

• Land: soldier modernisation systems - national programmes

  MERS

  The Marine Expeditionary Rifle Squad (MERS) takes a systems engineering approach to equipping the USMC’s fundamental fighting unit. The integration and configuration management of all ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  MQ-8B Fire Scout

  The MQ-8B Fire Scout is a rotary-wing UAV that provides situational awareness and precision targeting support for the US Armed Forces. The MQ-8B Fire Scout, ...

• Air: surveillance and maritime patrol radar

  AN/ZPY-1 STARLite

  The AN/ZPY-1 Small Tactical Radar-Lightweight (STARLite) is a synthetic aperture radar and GMTI sensor for UAVs, manufactured by Northrop Grumman. It offers strip and spot synthetic ...

• Fighter - multirole, Fighter - naval

  F-35C

  The F-35C Lightning II, also known as the F-35 carrier variant (CV), is a fifth-generation multirole combat aircraft in carrier configuration. It has larger wings and ...

• 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 ...

• Guided munitions

  AGM-154 JSOW

  The AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) is a joint United States Navy (USN)/United States Air Force (USAF) programme with the USN as the lead service. ...

• Air: mission management systems

  Air Operations Systems of Systems

  Air Operations System of Systems is designed to enable management of airspaces across large states and/or regions focusing on strategic planning. The system integration approach ...

• Trainer

  Saab 340 trainer

  The Saab 340 trainer aircraft is based on the Saab 340 regional airliner. It is used by the USN for pilot training. The aircraft replaced ...

• Subsystems: software

  LiteFlite II Simulators

  The LiteFlite II was designed to provide a high-fidelity, laptop-based system with white-force/man-in-the-loop capabilities for use with a variety of simulation systems. LiteFlite II represents ...