• Defence Notes

  D&S 2017: China boosts arms sales to Thailand

  1st November 2017

  In the past two years China has achieved a surprising degree of weapon sales to Thailand. It reflects a closer relationship between the two countries …

• Land Warfare

  New video display tested for MMPV

  1st November 2017

  The US Army has begun testing a new Multi-Functional Video Display (MVD) for the Medium Mine Protected Vehicle (MMPV) Type II at Fort Leonard Wood, …

• Military Logistics

  Poland searches for armoured tractors

  6th November 2017

  The Polish Armament Inspectorate has launched a tender for new armoured tractors and trailers, which will be used to transport main battle tanks and other …

• Military Logistics

  Army arsenal spotlights capability upgrade

  27th October 2017

  A recent $41.7 million investment in the Watervliet Arsenal manufacturing centre has positioned the arsenal to better support the emerging readiness needs of US and foreign …

• Defence Helicopter

  US Apaches line up new partners in Korea

  25th October 2017

  US Army Apaches stationed in South Korea are set to hook up with Gray Eagle MALE UAVs over the coming year, as well as bolstering …

• Defence Notes

  Xi arranges a clean sweep of the CMC

  27th October 2017

  On 25 October when President Xi Jinping unveiled the new membership of the Central Military Commission (CMC), the leadership body that supervises the People’s Liberation …

• Defence Helicopter

  Apache's future still in army and abroad

  25th October 2017

  As attention turns to Future Vertical Lift (FVL) as the US Army’s next-generation of aircraft, the AH-64 Apache remains a key platform to the service’s fleet …

• Naval Warfare

  D&S 2017: Chinese floats whole submarine family for export

  6th November 2017

  Chinese companies were out in force at Defense & Security 2017 in Bangkok, including the China Shipbuilding and Offshore International Company (CSOC). Most prominent on …

• Land Warfare

  US Army relies on rotational brigades in South Korea

  25th October 2017

  Two years ago a unique Republic of Korea-US Combined Division was formed utilising the US Army's 2nd Infantry Division (2ID), and shortly afterwards the resident …

• Military Logistics

  Leidos to support Afghan aircraft fleets

  27th October 2017

  Leidos has received an Afghanistan Contractor Logistics Support contract worth up to $728 million from the US Army to support the Afghanistan Air Force (AAF) and …

• Special Operations

  US Army SOF highlights support in Northern Syria

  20th October 2017

  US Army special operations leaders have highlighted the contributions of Army Special Operations Forces (ARSOF) in supporting indigenous forces, particularly in northern Syria.

• Land Warfare

  New Zealand rejuvenates sniper rifle inventory

  23rd October 2017

  The New Zealand Army has selected US company Barrett to fulfil a requirement for two types of new sniper rifle: the 12.7mm M107A1 anti-materiel rifle …

• Land Warfare

  US Army tests laser targeting system

  24th October 2017

  The US Army has tested a new Joint Effects Targeting System Target Laser Designation System (JETS-TLDS) at the Cold Regions Test Center in Alaska, it …

• Land Warfare

  Leonardo aims for M60 modernisation market

  24th October 2017

  Leonardo continues to push its M60A3 overhaul and upgrade offering, which provides operators of the legacy main battle tank with an opportunity to enhance its …

• Land Warfare

  D&S 2017: Thai marines see Phantoms in southern insurgency

  30th October 2017

  Satisfied with the performance of a prototype Phantom 380-X 4x4 APC deployed by the Royal Thai Marine Corps (RTMC) in the country’s troubled southern border …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Loitering munitions

  Loitering Munitions [Spain]

  Programme Background Fuerza 35 Project This project is a Spanish Army initiative to create and maintain an effective force by forming flexible, cohesive operational organisations, highly ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | Small UAS [Spain]

  The Spanish Army examined the Russo-Ukrainian War in early 2024 and incorporated many learnings into its Fuerza 35 Project, a restructuring and procurement modernisation initiative. ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | Small UAS [Spain]

  The Spanish Army examined the Russo-Ukrainian War in early 2024 and incorporated many learnings into its Fuerza 35 Project, a restructuring and procurement modernisation initiative. ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Twister [Spain]

  Background Background Fuerza 35 Project This project is a Spanish Army initiative to create and maintain an effective force by forming flexible and cohesive operational ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  VCR (Batch 1) [Spain]

  Background Purpose The VCR programme is to replace several legacy wheeled and tracked vehicles currently in service with the Spanish Army, including the BMR-600 6x6, VEC-M1 ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  VCR (Batch 3) [Spain]

  Background Purpose The VCR programme is to replace several legacy wheeled and tracked vehicles currently in service with the Spanish Army, including the BMR-600 6x6, ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  VCR (Batch 2) [Spain]

  Background Purpose The VCR programme is to replace several legacy wheeled and tracked vehicles currently in service with the Spanish Army, including the BMR-600 6x6, ...

• Military UAS - micro

  X10D [Spain]

  Background Contract award On 27 May 2024, the Spanish Head of Economic Affairs of the Logistics Support Command issued a pre-tender announcement regarding the purchase ...

• Wheeled assault guns

  B1 Centauro Replacement [Spain]

  Background The Spanish Army entered the B1 Centauro into service between 2000 and 2006. Manufactured by the Italian Iveco and Oto Melara consortium CIO, the B1 ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Vector [Spain]

  Background Two tenders On 4 May 2025, Quantum Systems announced it had won two tenders from the Spanish Armed Forces to supply two different UAVs. According ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  VAMTAC ST5 (Batch 4) [Spain]

  Background The decision to acquire these vehicles comes within the wider context of the Spanish government announcing a significant increase in defence spending in order ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  VAMTAC ST5 (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) [Spain]

  Background The VAMTAC ST5 is already in Spanish service with the Spanish Army, Navy, and Air Force in various configurations. In June 2025, the Spanish ...

• Military UAS - mini

  AKILA [Spain]

  Background Contract award In October 2025, the Spanish Procurement Directorate of the Logistics Support Command of the Air and Space Force publicly issued a framework ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  VAMTAC ST5 (Batch 3) [Spain]

  Background The decision to acquire these vehicles comes within the wider context of the Spanish government announcing a significant increase in defence spending in order ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  VAMTAC ST5 (Batch 2) [Spain]

  Background The decision to acquire these vehicles comes within the wider context of the Spanish government announcing a significant increase in defence spending in order ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Heavy UGVs

  Valkyrie

  The Valkyrie is a 6x6 UGV developed by the Spanish company SASCorp. It was unveiled for the first time at FINDEF 2021. The platform has reportedly ...

• Towed guns

  SIAC 155mm/52cal

  The SIAC 155mm/52cal towed howitzer is the latest derivative of the 155mm/52cal APU SBT howitzer originally developed by GDELS-SBS in the 1990s to meet a ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Lantrek VMTT

  The Landtrek VMTT is an LTV developed by Spain's Iturri to provide logistical and support functions. The Spanish Army became the debut customer in July ...

• Land: RWS

  Guardian 2.0

  The Guardian 2.0 RWS is an upgraded version of Escribano's Guardian RWS in service with the Spanish Army, which offers improved sensors and better stabilisation. ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  ASCOD Common Base Platform

  GDELS unveiled a new variant of its tracked ASCOD (Austrian Spanish Cooperative Development) IFV based on the new Common Base Platform (CBP) at the June ...

• Land: vehicle simulators

  Leopard 2E Simulators

  Indra was prime contractor for the Spanish Army Leopard 2E Tank Simulation Programme, which involved 23 devices across driving, turret and platoon simulators with networking ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  VCR Dragon

  Having received a $2 billion order from the Spanish Army, the General Dynamics European Land Systems VCR Dragon 8x8 IFV is swiftly replacing the ageing BMR-600 6x6 ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Alcotán

  The Alcotán is a lightweight, hand-launched platform. Designed by USOL, the system features an aerial platform, autopilot and GCS. It is suitable for both civil ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Neton

  The 4x4 Neton Ultrafast Tactical Vehicle is manufactured by Spanish firm Einsa. It is an all-terrain, highly mobile and air-transportable SF platform. Following an evaluation ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  BMR-600

  The BMR-600 "Pegaso"  is a wheeled fully-amphibious 6x6 APC which began development in 1972. It was originally designed by Santa Barbara Sistemas which is now ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  ASCOD

  The Austrian Spanish Cooperative Development (ASCOD) I/CFV was developed to meet the joint requirements of the Austrian and Spanish armies for a medium-weight armoured vehicle ...

• Loitering munitions

  Q-SLAM-40

  The QLM-40, or Q-SLAM-40, is a multi-purpose loitering munition manufactured by Arquimea. It is launched from a pneumatic launcher, powered by an electric motor and contains an ISR payload ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Fulmar X

  The Fulmar X is a Thales UAV designed to carry out high-quality ISTAR missions for civil and military applications. A complete system comprises two UAVs, launch and recovery ...

• Individual assault/anti-tank weapons

  Alcotan-100

  The Alcotan-100 is a recoilless, shoulder-launched, antitank rocket launcher developed to meet a Spanish Army requirement, entering service in 2008. In 2014, the Peruvian Army ...

• Light machine guns

  MG4

  The 5.56mm MG4 has been in German Army service since 2005 and sold to at least five export customers, including the Spanish Army. The MG4 ...