• 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 …

• Defence Helicopter

  Korean Air, Boeing team for Chinook upgrade

  24th October 2017

  Korean Air and Boeing have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will see the two companies partner to target the Republic of Korea (ROK) …

• 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 …

• Special Operations

  New vehicles on display in Bahrain

  27th October 2017

  The Bahrain Royal Guard Special Forces has unveiled a new 4x4 long-range patrol vehicle, based on the Toyota Land Cruiser chassis and assembled in-country.  Shown …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Poland hunts for Tarantulas

  17th October 2017

  The Polish Army is pursuing a goal to acquire a series of mobile UGVs for its reconnaissance platoons. The Tarantula programme calls for the acquisition …

• Land Warfare

  China sets terms for Somali vehicle donation

  5th October 2017

  New Tiger 4x4 vehicles delivered to the Somali National Army (SNA) are part of a sweetener deal from China that will increase Beijing’s influence. A …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  MUM-T emerges from the Shadows in Korea

  16th October 2017

  Despite being fielded in South Korea for well over a decade, the Textron Systems RQ-7B (Shadow 200) tactical UAV continues to give the US Army …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Medium UGVs

  Mission Master (RPV Sprial 3) [UK]

  Programme Background First announced in April 2017 and referred to in early MOD documents as the ‘last mile resupply’ initiative, the British Army is reportedly ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing

  First Person View (FPV) Drones [UK]

  Background Parliament Questions On 20 May 2025, Ben Obese-Jecty, Conservative MP for Huntingdon, asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many FPV drones had been procured ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Boxer (MIV) [UK]

  Programme Background History The UK MoD announced in March 2018 that it would re-join the Boxer programme and pursue a sole-source acquisition of the 8x8 ...

• 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 ...

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

  Magni-X (UK)

  Programme Background On 12 January 2022, Elbit Systems UK announced it had been awarded a contract from the UK MoD's Defence Equipment & Support's Future Capability ...

• Medium UGVs

  Mission Master (RPV Sprial 2) [UK]

  Programme Background First announced in April 2017 and referred to in early MOD documents as the ‘last mile resupply’ initiative, the British Army is reportedly ...

• Military UAS - small

  Black Hornet 3 PRS (UK)

  Programme Background The British Army operated approximately 160 first-generation Black Hornet PD-100 nano UAS between 2013 and 2017, when the decision was made to retire ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6, LTVs - 4x4

  Supacat HMT 400 & 600 [UK]

  Programme Background Programme Requirements The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) stated in a Contract Notice that it had a requirement for at least 70 new HMT platforms ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  HMT Extenda [UK]

  Programme Background Programme Requirements The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) stated in a Contract Notice that it required at least 240 new HMT platforms to ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) Project [UK]

  Programme Background Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) Project The British Army launched the RAS project to provide the "direction required to exploit emerging technologies to ...

• 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 ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Ajax [UK]

  Programme Background Under its $4.3 billion production contract, GDUK will provide 589 Ajax to the British Army. These will be delivered in six different variants: ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6, LTVs - 4x4

  Supacat HMT 400 [UK]

  Programme Background Programme Requirements The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) stated in a Contract Notice that it required at least 240 new HMT platforms to mitigate ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Land Mobility Programme (Light Protected Mobility) [UK]

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

• Medium UGVs

  DSTL Medium UGV [UK]

  Programme Background This programme was established to determine the future use of medium UGVs for logistical purposes in the British Army, although it was run ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  British Army Apache Training Facilities

  Aviation Training International (ATIL) – a Leonardo Helicopters/Boeing joint venture formed in 1998 - was selected to provide the attack helicopter training service to the ...

• Main battle tanks

  Challenger 1

  420 Challenger 1 MBTs were delivered to the British Army between 1983 and 1990. Developed from the Shir 2 MBT originally designed for Iran, the ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  HIDAS

  Leonardo’s Helicopter Integrated Defensive Aids System (HIDAS) combines laser, missile and Radar Warning Receivers, and a Chaff and Flare Dispensing System (CFDS). The system is ...

• Unguided Artillery Ammunition

  L52 Smoke

  The L52 Smoke is a 105mm smoke artillery round manufactured by BAE Systems.  The British Army uses it in its L118 Light Guns.

• Self-propelled guns

  AS90

  The AS90 155mm/39cal tracked SPH was designed and built by Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering (acquired by BAE Systems in 1999) to meet the requirements of ...

• Unguided Artillery Ammunition

  L21 High Explosive (HE)

  The L21 High Explosive (HE) is a 155mm artillery shell manufactured by BAE Systems. The British Army uses the L21 with its Archer artillery systems.

• Towed guns

  105mm Light Gun

  The 105mm Light Gun was designed and manufactured by Royal Ordnance Nottingham (now BAE Systems), with the first guns introduced to the British Army in ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  FV432 Mk 3 Bulldog

  The FV432 Mk 3 Bulldog is an upgraded version of the long-serving FV432 family of tracked vehicles, of which approximately 3,000 were delivered to the British ...

• Main battle tanks

  Challenger 2

  The 120mm-armed Challenger 2 MBT was introduced into British Army service in 1994 as a replacement for the Challenger 1, which was successfully employed in ...

• Unguided Artillery Ammunition

  L17 Inert

  The L17 Inert is a 155mm training artillery round manufactured by BAE Systems.  It is in service with the British Army, where its Archer artillery systems use ...

• Subsystems: software

  Exonaut Software Suite

  Since 2000, 4C has been developing the Exonaut software suite. The products within the Exonaut suite can either be used standalone or as part of ...

• Armoured engineer vehicles

  Buffalo MPCV

  The Buffalo Mine-Protected Clearance Vehicle (MPCV) is in service with the armed forces of Canada, France, Italy, Pakistan, the UK and the US and has ...

• Land: tactical engagement simulators

  Instrumented Ground Combat Training Systems

  Cubic supplies combat training systems for CTCs, homestations and forward-deployed environments. The systems are designed to support missions including force-on-force, urban operations, joint, combined arms ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Cougar 6x6

  The Cougar 6x6 has its origins as a South African vehicle manufactured by Force Protection, a company eventually purchased by General Dynamics. Mine-protected vehicles manufactured ...

• Main battle tanks

  Olifant

  The Olifant (Elephant) is a South African variant of the British Centurion MBT. Development of the Centurion began in 1943. It was introduced into service ...