• Defence Helicopter

  Sea Lion takes to the air

  8th December 2016

  Germany’s NH90 Sea Lion naval multirole helicopter has officially flown for the first time, placing the type squarely in the frame for potential future selection …

• Military Logistics

  A400M enters service in Spain

  8th December 2016

  The Spanish Air Force’s first A400M transport aircraft has entered into service, with OCCAR signing the Aircraft Transfer of Title for MSN44. The aircraft will …

• Special Operations

  UK adds to SF rifle inventory

  8th December 2016

  The UK MoD has placed an order for more L119A2 (C8) assault rifles, which is the carbine variant that is used by the UK’s special …

• Defence Helicopter

  Russian Naval Aviation fleet expands

  7th December 2016

  The Russian Naval Aviation (RNA) service plans to take its first batch of Ka-27PL anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopters in December 2016. The news comes at …

• Land Warfare

  UK to test active protection

  7th December 2016

  The UK MoD has set 2018 as the date it will carry out live-fire tests of an active protection system (APS). It is a part of …

• Training

  UK MoD invests in training sites

  7th December 2016

  Three test and training sites across the UK will continue to be modernised and managed by QinetiQ under a £1 billion contract amendment announced by …

• Land Warfare

  Russia reverses tank mothballing

  6th December 2016

  The Russian MoD has announced plans to refurbish and upgrade its T-80BV MBT inventory in a reversal of a decision taken three years ago. In …

• Defence Helicopter

  Croatia receives final OH-58Ds from US

  5th December 2016

  Croatia has received the final batch of OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters purchased from excess US defence stock, bolstering its existing fleet of five aircraft received …

• Digital Battlespace

  Ajax to get TALIN navigation technology

  5th December 2016

  General Dynamics Land Systems UK has selected Honeywell's TALIN inertial land navigation technology for installation on the British Army's new Ajax armoured fighting vehicles, Honeywell …

• Land Warfare

  Russia to get 3rd gen anti-tank missile

  2nd December 2016

  Russia’s military design bureaus are completing the design of a third generation of anti-tank missile system. According to recent statements of Lieutenant-General Mikhail Matveevsky, chief …

• Defence Notes

  BMD option touted for UK frigate

  1st December 2016

  Raytheon has called on the Royal Navy to consider adopting its SM-3 short- to intermediate-range ballistic missile defence (BMD) system, on its future Type 31 …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Certifiable Predator B flies in California

  1st December 2016

  General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) announced on 28 November that its Type-Certifiable Predator B (TCPB) variant has successfully completed its first flight test at Gray …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2016: UK selects VBS3 – at last

  30th November 2016

  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has selected Bohemia Interactive Simulations’ (BISim's) Virtual Battlespace 3 (VBS3) as the winner of its Defence Virtual Simulation (DVS) …

• Naval Warfare

  UK leads US Task Force 50

  30th November 2016

  The British Royal Navy has taken charge of US Task Force 50 in the Gulf for the first time, it was announced on 26 November. …

• Defence Notes

  Analysis: UK naval shipbuilding

  30th November 2016

  Too little too late There are some great recommendations from Sir John Parker in his independent report about the UK naval shipbuilding industry, all of …

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 ...

• Loitering munitions

  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 ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

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

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

• 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

  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 ...

• Military UAS - mini

  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

  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]

  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) programme ...

• Fighter - naval

  F-35B [UK]

  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 ...

• Transport

  Command Support Air Transport Recapitalisation [UK]

  Programme Background The tender, originally released on 28 October 2021, required industry bidders to put forward aircraft that can achieve a minimum unrefuelled range of ...

• 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 ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) [UK]

  Despite the cancellation of Project Mosquito in June 2022, the UK MoD and Royal Air Force (RAF) remained interested in acquiring a loyal wingman UAV. In ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) [UK]

  Despite the cancellation of Project Mosquito in June 2022, the UK MoD and Royal Air Force (RAF) remained interested in acquiring a loyal wingman UAV. In ...

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 ...

• 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 ...