• Naval Warfare

  Seagull could be added to India's platform panoply

  20th April 2018

  Indian naval shipbuilder Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) signed an agreement with Israel’s Elbit Systems to produce Elbit’s Seagull USV vessel at the recently …

• Defence Notes

  China sends bombers around Taiwan

  26th April 2018

  China flew bombers and fighter jets around Taiwan on 26 April, the air force said, the latest show of force by Beijing following warnings against …

• Defence Helicopter

  Black Hawk grip spreading in Latin America

  24th April 2018

  With 174 UH-60 Black Hawk variants currently operating in Latin America this figure is set to grow due to pending deliveries and further still as a result …

• Military Logistics

  STM’s fleet tanker completes sea trials

  18th April 2018

  PNS Moawin fleet tanker, built for the Pakistan Navy, has successfully completed its first sea trials in the Indian Ocean. The tanker has been built …

• Defence Helicopter

  Seoul to begin search for naval helicopters

  27th April 2018

  The Republic of Korea Navy’s (ROKN) search for a dozen additional helicopters suitable for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) is set to begin in May, according to …

• Naval Warfare

  Spain's navy wants role in post-Brexit European defence

  29th April 2018

  With naval power Britain at the EU's exit door, Spain has gone on the offensive to be the next major player defending European shores. Madrid's …

• Naval Warfare

  DSA 2018: China offers multirole ship design to Malaysia

  17th April 2018

  China is offering Malaysia a co-build option for the Royal Malaysian Navy’s requirement for a Multi-Role Support Ship (MRSS), a design loosely based on a landing helicopter …

• Special Operations

  SOF explores unmanned naval platform

  20th April 2018

  The US Navy has conducted its latest demonstration of Textron Systems’ Common Unmanned Surface Vehicle (CUSV) as it considers a variety of concepts of operation …

• Digital Battlespace

  ADF to enhance space surveillance capabilities

  3rd April 2018

  The Australian Department of Defence (DoD) has kicked off a new project that aims to improve Royal Australian Navy vessels’ safety, speed and fuel consumption …

• Special Operations

  DSA 2018: Testing times ahead for Malaysian SOF vehicles

  16th April 2018

  The competition is hotting up for new special operations vehicles for special forces and airborne units of the Malaysian Army, with a quartet of companies …

• Military Logistics

  DSA 2018: Thailand toys with Transformers

  11th April 2018

  The TR Transformer II 4x4 pickup passenger vehicle (PPV) is now being acquired by the Royal Thai Armed Forces, with an example appearing at Exercise …

• Land Warfare

  DSA 2018: Malaysian Guardians approach Lebanon

  17th April 2018

  The Malaysian Armed Forces’ new 4x4 protected vehicles for its peacekeepers stationed in Lebanon are currently in transit to the strife-torn country, Shephard learned at …

• Naval Warfare

  Sea-Air-Space 2018: DDG 51 contract award on track for summer decision

  10th April 2018

  A new multiyear contract award for the US Navy's DDG 51 destroyers is on track for this summer. US Navy Capt Casey Morton, the DDG …

• Military Logistics

  UK’s third Tide-class tanker arrives for fit-out

  30th March 2018

  RFA Tidesurge, the third of four new Tide-class support tankers for the UK Navy’s Royal Fleet Auxiliary, has arrived for customisation and trials in Cornwall, …

• Land Warfare

  Saudi Arabia requests M109A5/A6 howitzer structures

  10th April 2018

  The government of Saudi Arabia has requested a foreign military sale of 155mm M109A5/A6 medium self-propelled howitzer structures for conversion to M109A6 Paladin howitzer systems …

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 ...