• Defence Notes

  Opinion: Christmas respite for UK Armed Forces ahead of crunch 2020

  20th December 2019

  As the year draws to a close, the UK MoD would be excused for letting out a sigh of exhaustion as a busy, and at …

• Defence Notes

  Defence Insight: Future market forecast (Air)

  18th December 2019

  The military fixed-wing sector was dominated by aircraft in 2019 with F-35, next-generation fighter aircraft and AWACs awards hitting the headlines.Lockheed Martin’s F-35 is the …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2019: UK opts to keep it real for IEDD training

  2nd December 2019

  Last month the UK MoD issued its latest contract for the procurement of second-hand vehicles to be used for Improvised Explosive Device Disposal (IEDD) training, …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2019: Booz Allen Hamilton points to metrics as key VR training benefit

  2nd December 2019

  With personnel training pipelines over capacity the need for militaries, particularly those with significant numbers of personnel, to ensure improved training capabilities has led to …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2019: Lockheed outlines F-35 training and maintenance infrastructure

  3rd December 2019

  Running parallel to the physical development of the F-35 fighter programme, platform manufacturer Lockheed Martin is continuing to work to provide the services operating the …

• Training

  UK on path to fulfil fast jet training gap

  21st November 2019

  One of the issues of buying training systems is that stove-piped procurements can lead to an inability to network devices to fulfil a common, overarching …

• Naval Warfare

  Deal done for UK’s future Type 31 frigates

  15th November 2019

  With minimal fuss and an absence of fanfare, the UK MoD has awarded a contract to Babcock on 15 November for the build and delivery …

• Digital Battlespace

  UK MoD selects Wescam MX-15​ system

  5th November 2019

  L3Harris Technologies will supply 40 Wescam MX-15 electro-optical, infrared (EO/IR) imaging systems to the UK Ministry of Defence, the company announced on 5 November. The …

• Naval Warfare

  FSS suspension indicative of wider push for sovereign naval industry

  6th November 2019

  The UK Government looks to have taken a key suggestion stated in a recent review into the National Shipbuilding Strategy to heart by suspending the …

• Defence Helicopter

  British Army keen to push new Apaches into MUM-T role

  28th October 2019

  The British Army wants to prioritise manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) for its incoming fleet of AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters, but first intends on making sure …

• Digital Battlespace

  AOC 2019: Risks inherent with domain convergence

  23rd October 2019

  The last five years has seen much debate in the global EW community regarding the convergence of electronic and cyber warfare domains. Yet merging these …

• Land Warfare

  Timeline clarity on future of Challenger 2

  4th October 2019

  While the presence of Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land's (RBSL) proposal for the Challenger 2 Life Extension Programme (LEP) has captured the attention of tank watchers …

• Digital Battlespace

  DSEI 2019: UK MoD outlines C-UAS demand signals

  13th September 2019

  Officials from the UK Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) C-sUAS team have challenged industry to provide greater capability for armed forces operating in austere conditions. According …

• Defence Notes

  Podcast: Modernising the Polish armed forces and what to expect from the UK MoD at DSEI

  6th September 2019

  Welcome to Episode 33 of The Weekly Defence Podcast. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and more. Sign up to an early email alert of future podcasts here.

• Naval Warfare

  Royal Navy Type 31 build plans remain unclear as name game gets a head start

  18th September 2019

  Despite the selection of Babcock’s Arrowhead 140 design for the UK Royal Navy’s Type 31 light frigate programme, both potential supplier and customer remain cagey …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• 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 ...

• Military UAS - small

  Bug Nano UAS (UK)

  Programme Background The British Army previously took delivery of 160 first-generation Black Hornet PD-100 nano UAS in 2013 to support operations in Afghanistan. After these ...

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Air Launched Effects (ALE) [UK]

  Programme Background Acquisition Pipeline First published on 13 June 2022, the Acquisition Pipeline is a forward look at potential procurement activity undertaken by the UK MoD.  ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) Programme Block II [UK]

  Under Block II of the RN's Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) programme, the UK is expected to acquire three Offshore Support Vessels (OSVs) designed to be ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) Programme Block II [UK]

  Under Block II of the RN's Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) programme, the UK is expected to acquire three Offshore Support Vessels (OSVs) designed to be ...

• 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) ...

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

  Tactical Multirotor ISR UAV (Ukraine Aid) [UK]

  Programme Background Invitation To Tender (ITT) On 17 February 2025, the UK MoD released an Invitation to Tender (ITT) seeking Tactical Multirotor ISR UAVs. The effort is valued ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | AUKUS-SSNs/SSN(R) Astute Replacement Programme [UK]

  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has begun the planning process for the Astute class replacement programme referred to as SSN-Replacement (SSN(R)). In September 2021, it was announced ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | AUKUS-SSNs/SSN(R) Astute Replacement Programme [UK]

  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has begun the planning process for the Astute class replacement programme referred to as SSN-Replacement (SSN(R)). In September 2021, it was announced ...

• MPVs - 4x4, Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles

  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 ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | E-7 Wedgetail - UK (Second Order)

  The UK MoD signed a £1.51 billion ($1.98 billion) deal to purchase five E-7 Wedgetail aircraft from Boeing for the Royal Air Force (RAF) in ...

• Data links

  Data links | E-7 Wedgetail - UK (Second Order)

  The UK MoD signed a £1.51 billion ($1.98 billion) deal to purchase five E-7 Wedgetail aircraft from Boeing for the Royal Air Force (RAF) in ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | E-7 Wedgetail - UK (Second Order)

  The UK MoD signed a £1.51 billion ($1.98 billion) deal to purchase five E-7 Wedgetail aircraft from Boeing for the Royal Air Force (RAF) in ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | E-7 Wedgetail - UK (Second Order)

  The UK MoD signed a £1.51 billion ($1.98 billion) deal to purchase five E-7 Wedgetail aircraft from Boeing for the Royal Air Force (RAF) in ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | E-7 Wedgetail (Second Order) [U.K.]

  The UK MoD signed a £1.51 billion ($1.98 billion) deal to purchase five E-7 Wedgetail aircraft from Boeing for the Royal Air Force (RAF) in ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Infrastructure - generators

  Standalone Field Generator

  HGI is a supplier of standalone field generators to the UK MoD. It has supplied systems for communications, C2, field hospitals and workshop facilities. The ...

• Military 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Buster

  The Buster is a small UAS that is designed for carrying out close-range surveillance in all weather conditions. It can carry several different payloads and ...

• Land: vehicle surveillance/target acquisition systems

  DNGS-T3

  DNGS-T3 is a single or dual-axis stabilised Day/Night Gunner Sight. It entered service with the UK MoD in 2004 on tracked AFVs. There are more ...

• Data links

  NMS

  The Network Management System (NMS) provides the ability to monitor and manage tactical data links (Link 11A, Link 11B, MIDS/JTIDS Link 16 and legacy links) ...

• Osprey

  Morgan has supplied over 100,000 Osprey body armour plates to the UK MoD. Osprey Enhanced Combat Body Armour Mk 4 offers improvements in fit and ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  AW159 Wildcat

  The AW159 is a twin-engine, multirole maritime and utility aircraft that was developed as a replacement for the Lynx family of helicopters. Designated 'Wildcat' by ...

• Infrastructure - shelters/accommodation

  Deployable Shelter Systems

  Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group provides integrated deployable shelters for C2, ground control of unmanned systems, C4ISTAR and laboratories. Examples include the Watchkeeper UAV GCS, ...

• Trucks and utility vehicles - 6x6, Trucks and utility vehicles - 8x8

  SLDT(P)

  Following the success of the Trakker 6x6 in the engineer support role, the UK MoD identified a UOR for a fleet of protected self-loading dump ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  TTF

  BAE Systems manages the Typhoon Training Facility (TTF) for the UK MoD at RAF Coningsby, England. The facility supports the operational conversion unit and squadron ...

• Major networking projects

  ARRC C2IS

  In August 2006, the UK MoD appointed Thales as prime contractor for the delivery of the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC) – Command Control and ...

• Naval guns, Land: RWS

  DragonFire

  Dragonfire is a new laser weapon system built for the UK MoD, receiving £30 million of funding in early 2017. The design of the gun ...

• High-G Trainer Service

  Thales will provide the design, build and operation of a new high G-force training service for the UK MOD to help pilots build and maintain ...