• 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 …

• 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: EDM to demonstrate pilot skills

  22nd November 2016

  EDM, a leading global provider of training simulators to the civil aviation and defence sectors, has announced that it will be testing pilot skills with …

• Land Warfare

  Russia fields Arctic APC

  17th November 2016

  Russia is showing its continued interest in the Arctic region by developing a set of Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) that are able to operate in …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  UK nears end of Protector road

  17th November 2016

  The acquisition by the UK of the next generation Certifiable Predator B (CPB), which will be known as Protector when in service, has moved a …

• Defence Notes

  NZ defence plan rectifies vague white paper

  16th November 2016

  New Zealand released its 2016 Defence Capability Plan on 16 November offering some clarity on future defence projects. It follows the release of the Defence …

• 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 …

• Digital Battlespace

  Earthquake relief ship to get comms upgrade

  15th November 2016

  The Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) multirole vessel HMNZS Canterbury, will get a communications upgrade along with two other ships. Canterbury is delivering much-needed supplies and …

• Naval Warfare

  UK and Norway to cooperate on MPA

  14th November 2016

  A new cooperation between the UK and Norway on Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) and exercises will aim to reduce costs and increase operational effectiveness, the …

• Training

  Meggitt receives two UK MoD contracts

  14th November 2016

  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has selected Meggitt Training Systems to fulfil two small arms training contracts worth a combined $20 million, the company …

• Land Warfare

  Ukraine looks to Hulk up

  14th November 2016

  The Ukrainian MoD has started talks with the Kremenchug Automobile Plant (KrAZ) about buying the Hulk armoured vehicle. KrAZ is Ukraine’s largest producers of trucks …

• Digital Battlespace

  Sentinel radar upgrade due

  11th November 2016

  The urgency to upgrade the radar fitted on the UK RAF Sentinel R Mk1 ground surveillance aircraft is building. UK MoD funding for the Integrated …

• Land Warfare

  Israel to get more Trophy protection

  11th November 2016

  Israel has given the green light to equip all of its new main battle tanks and armoured personnel carriers with Trophy active protection systems, it …

• Digital Battlespace

  UK awards Maritime Network Evolution contract

  11th November 2016

  Airbus Defence and Space will upgrade the communications networks on Royal Navy vessels under a £36 million contract announced on 8 November. The four-year Maritime …

• Land Warfare

  India to buy T-90MS tanks

  11th November 2016

  The procurement of 464 T-90 main battle tanks by India was approved in early November by the defence minister, Manohar Parrikar. He chaired India’s Defence …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Loitering munitions

  Nyan OWE [UK]

  Background Transparency notice On 13 February 2026, the UK MoD published a transparency notice concerning OWE Nyan, specifically, the procurement of OWE drones for operational ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing

  FPV & Attack Drones (Ukraine Aid) [UK & Norway]

  Background £450 million On 11 April 2025, the UK MoD announced a £450 million package for Ukraine, which included £350 million from the UK from this ...

• Loitering munitions

  Altius 600M & Altius 700M (Ukraine Aid) [UK]

  Programme Background Anduril On 6 March 2025, the UK MoD and John Healey, the Secretary of State for Defence, announced a package to help counter Russia's aggression against ...

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

  AR3 (Ukraine Aid) [UK]

  Background £270 Million investment On 15 September 2025, the UK MoD noted that, since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the UK ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Multi-Role Vehicle (Protected) (MRV-P) Package 1 (UK)

  Programme Background Requirement The MRV-P programme was intended to procure replacements for a diverse fleet of 4x4 and 6x6 vehicles purchased during the wars in Iraq ...

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  30,000 FPV Drones (Ukraine Aid) [UK]

  Programme Background IDCC On 9 January 2025, the UK MoD announced that 30,000 FPV drones would be sent to Ukraine after the awarding of £45 million ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Fleet Solid Support (FSS) (1-3) [UK]

  Programme Background Requirement The 2015 Strategic Defence & Security Review (SDSR) highlighted the requirement for three Military Afloat Reach & Sustainability (MARS) Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ...

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Project Tiquila [UK]

  Programme Background Tender Notice On 18 September 2020, the MoD Combat Air Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) Team published a tender notice for a system integrator ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  First Person View (FPV) Drones (Ukraine Aid) [UK]

  Programme Background 2024/2025 Military Aid Package On 12 January 2024, the UK government announced it would provide Ukraine with £2.5 billion ($3.2 billion) in military ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  New Medium Helicopter (NMH) [UK]

  Programme Background NMH Market Interest Day On 11 November 2021, the MoD communicated the requirements of the £1 billion ($1.34 billion) New Medium Helicopter (NMH) ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Land Mobility Programme (Light Mobility Vehicle) [UK]

  This programme briefly introduces the wider Land Mobility Programme and then focuses on the Light Mobility Vehicle (LMV) programme. Information on the LPM and HPM can ...

• Fighter - naval

  F-35B [United Kingdom]

  Programme Background The total cost of the currently funded programme as reported through the UK Major Projects Report is expected to be £10.5 billion ($13.5 ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | Project Corvus [UK]

  Defence Secretary John Healey told the House of Commons in late 2024 that, as part of a broader initiative to retire outdated equipment across the Armed ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | Project Corvus [UK]

  Defence Secretary John Healey told the House of Commons in late 2024 that, as part of a broader initiative to retire outdated equipment across the Armed ...

• Loitering munitions

  Project Brakestop [UK]

  Background Information Notice On 25 September 2024, the UK MoD published a prior information notice for Project Brakestop, informing industry of the upcoming competition. Requirements ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Major networking projects

  Project Marshall

  The Joint Military Air Traffic Services project was initiated by the UK MoD in November 2005 to identify and evaluate options for the future delivery ...

• Light UGVs

  T7

  The T7 is a multi-mission robotic system designed for military, police and hazardous missions. At DSEI 2017, the UK MoD awarded the Harris Corporation a ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  DragonFire

  DragonFire is a laser weapon system built for the UK MoD and manufactured by a consortium of manufacturers. The primary manufacturer is MBDA, though they ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  ASTOR FBFCT

  The Fixed Base Flight Crew Trainer (FBFCT) is a Level 5+ FTD for the UK RAF’s Airborne Standoff Radar (ASTOR) platform. The ASTOR FBFCT is ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Warthog

  The Warthog is based on the ST Kinetics Bronco all terrain tracked carrier (ATTC) and was developed to meet a UK MoD urgent operational requirement ...

• Major networking projects

  Skynet 6 SATCOM

  Skynet 6 is designed to replace Skynet 5. The PFI contract for Skynet 5,  held by Paradigm Secure Communications and Airbus DS, ends in 2022. As ...

• Air-launched ASW torpedoes, Ship-launched torpedoes

  Sting Ray Mod 1

  The Sting Ray Mod 1 is an air- and surface-launched, lightweight ASW torpedo. It can be deployed from frigates, helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft against ...

• Major networking projects

  DTT

  Raytheon UK is working with the UK MoD to deliver a Defence Targeting Toolset (DTT) capability. Aimed initially at land operations and eventually extending to ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  RFA Proteus (Vard 3 08)

  RFA Proteus serves as the launchpad for remotely operated vehicles and is the newest UK seabed warfare vessel. The ship, bought by the UK MoD as MV ...

• Major networking projects

  Skynet 5 SATCOM

  Airbus is the service provider for the UK MoD Skynet 5 private finance initiative contract, signed in October 2003 and now worth $5.6 billion. Airbus ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  UK MFTS

  The Military Flying Training System (MFTS) programme, is a private finance initiative involving the MoD and Ascent, a JV of Lockheed Martin and Babcock, which was ...

• Trucks and utility vehicles - 6x6

  Wheeled Tanker

  The Oshkosh Wheeled Tanker is a high-performance tactical vehicle, designed and built for the UK MoD in order to replace the existing fleet of legacy ...

• Loitering munitions

  Dart 250

  The Dart 250 is a jet-powered One Way Effect (OWE) with a range of 250 km and a maximum speed of 400 km/h. According to reports, the Dart ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  UK MSHATF

  The Medium Support Helicopter Aircrew Training Facility (MSHATF) opened for training at RAF Benson, England in July 1999. It provides training services to personnel from ...

• Data links

  AN/URC-138

  The AN/URC-138 is a Link 16 interoperable terminal originally developed for the Sea Harrier. It has the same Link 16 crypto as JTIDS/MIDS. The system ...