• Defence Helicopter

  Merlin Mk4 upgrades progress

  23rd November 2016

  The first AW101 Merlin Mk4 upgraded for the Royal Navy by Leonardo-Finmeccanica has completed its maiden flight, the company announced on 21 November. Leonardo is …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2016: Saab to upgrade US Army training systems

  22nd November 2016

  Saab has received three orders to add interoperability upgrades to the US Army's training systems to meet national and European forward deployment requirements, it announced …

• Digital Battlespace

  Miysis countermeasure system ready

  22nd November 2016

  Leonardo has begun assembling the first production examples of its Miysis directed infrared countermeasure (DIRCM) system for an undisclosed NATO launch customer, the company has …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2016: VR opens up affordable training

  28th November 2016

  Mirroring trends in the commercial gaming arena, virtual reality (VR) technology is once again likely to feature prominently at this year’s I/ITSEC exhibition held in …

• Land Warfare

  Russian missile brigade gets Iskander

  15th November 2016

  The Russian Ministry of Defence announced on 11 November that the missile brigade of Russia’s Central Military District (MD) has received new Iskander-M tactical ballistic …

• Military Logistics

  BAE Systems to work on US Navy destroyers

  24th November 2016

  Post-construction work on the US Navy’s USS Zumwalt and USS Michael Monsoor guided missile destroyers will be carried out by BAE Systems. The company announced …

• Digital Battlespace

  South Korea requests LAIRCM FMS

  21st November 2016

  The US has approved a possible foreign military sale of Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) systems to the Republic of Korea at an estimated cost …

• Digital Battlespace

  South Korean F-16 upgrade: BAE out, Lockheed in

  22nd November 2016

  After South Korea reneged on a contract with BAE Systems to upgrade its KF-16 fighter fleet, Seoul has now inked an alternative contract with Lockheed …

• Military Logistics

  A400M in AAR contact demo flight

  15th November 2016

  The A400M airlifter has demonstrated air-to-air refuelling contacts with another A400M, Airbus Defence and Space announced on 14 November. Two demonstration flights were carried out …

• Digital Battlespace

  MBDA laser in new testing

  16th November 2016

  A new high-energy laser effector developed by MBDA Deutschland has undergone successful testing at a military training facility on Germany’s North Sea coast, the company …

• Defence Notes

  Japan and Korea to share intelligence

  24th November 2016

  Neighbours Japan and South Korea signed a military intelligence-sharing agreement on 23 November. The impetus for this is North Korea’s belligerent ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programme. …

• Land Warfare

  TACMS in first flight test

  11th November 2016

  Lockheed Martin’s first modernised Tactical Missile System (TACMS) has successfully completed its first flight test at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, the company announced …

• Land Warfare

  Russia boosts artillery procurement

  16th November 2016

  Russian Land Forces are boosting their overall front line combat capabilities by increasing its self-propelled howitzer (SPH) inventory. It is doing this by taking delivery …

• Defence Notes

  HMAS Melbourne fires Sea Sparrow

  11th November 2016

  HMAS Melbourne has launched an Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile in a test off the east coast of Australia, the Royal Australian Navy announced on 8 …

• Land Warfare

  Anti-tank Kornet for Algeria

  10th November 2016

  A batch of 28 vehicle-mounted Kornet-EM anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) systems is being completed at Russia’s KBP company in Tula, destined for delivery to Algeria. …

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 ...

• 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. ...

• 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 ...

• Loitering munitions

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

  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 ...

• 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 ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Littoral Manoeuvre Vessel - Medium (Project Land 8710 Phase 1A) [Australia]

  On 19 December 2021, Australia launched an RfT (Request for Tender) for the Littoral Manoeuvre Vessel - Medium (LMV-M) requirement under Project Land 8710 Phase 1A. The closing date ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Littoral Manoeuvre Vessel - Medium (Project Land 8710 Phase 1A) [Australia]

  On 19 December 2021, Australia launched an RfT (Request for Tender) for the Littoral Manoeuvre Vessel - Medium (LMV-M) requirement under Project Land 8710 Phase 1A. The closing date ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• OPVs

  Medium Standard Vessels [Norway]

  Requirements In the 2023 Military Advice of the Chief of Defence, Gen Eirik Kristoffersen suggested that Norway should renew its maritime surface structure by rationalising ...

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 ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  ESTL

  The Enhanced Survivability Technology (ESTL) is an integrated self-protection pod with missile approach warning (MAWS) to counter RF and IR threats. The ESTL pod consists ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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: 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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, ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  MIM-104 A/B Patriot (PAC-1)

  The MIM-104 Phased Array Tracking to Intercept of Target (Patriot) is an American Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) designed for air defence duties. The original Patriot entered US ...