• Naval Warfare

  ‘Extraordinarily expensive’ outcome for USN as USS Bonhomme Richard to be decommissioned

  1st December 2020

  The USN has declared a second major naval platform loss due to fire damage in less than a decade, after the decision was taken to decommission the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard

• Defence Notes

  Belarus retains close procurement ties with Russia

  6th January 2021

  Moves to acquire extra multi-role fighters and helicopters reflect continued reliance on Russian materiel.

• Training

  Spanish Chinook sim gets an upgrade

  25th November 2020

  ​Spanish Army CH-47D fleet is being modernised to the CH-47F configuration

• Air Warfare

  Georgia eyes domestic production of UAVs and Su-25s

  19th January 2021

  While the Georgian MoD has made clear its ambitions, realising them may prove more complicated.

• Digital Battlespace

  ThinKom completes phased-array antenna tests

  12th January 2021

  VICTS technology demonstrates compatibility with AEHF satellite protected waveforms.

• Naval Warfare

  First Flight III Arleigh Burke destroyer 44% complete as USN eyes future DDG(X) requirements

  14th January 2021

  As the USN begins to firm up its specifications for the DDG(X) platform, the final variant of the venerable Arleigh Burke guided missile destroyers marks the beginning of the end for one of the service’s most successful platforms.

• Military Logistics

  UK firm to provide composite wing components for A400M

  7th January 2021

  ​Components will be supplied by Teledyne CML to the Airbus A400M composite wing box assembly line in Filton.

• Land Warfare

  India ploughs ahead with T-90 tanks

  27th January 2021

  India is taking the unusual move of fitting mine ploughs to nearly its entire T-90 tank fleet.

• Digital Battlespace

  Netherlands orders Israeli-made vehicle computers

  6th January 2021

  Elbit to provide latest-generation tactical computers for Royal Netherlands Army.

• Military Logistics

  Germany orders more logistics vehicles

  7th January 2021

  ​Contract for Rheinmetall exceeds €500 million, including almost €390 million from the German COVID-19 economic recovery fund.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  COVID-19 disruption delays Falco Xplorer certification to 2022

  20th January 2021

  Test progress on Falco Xplorer has been restricted by COVID-19 but Leonardo remains focused on obtaining military certification for the MALE UAV.

• Air Warfare

  Lockheed supports Italian and Norwegian F-35s

  8th January 2021

  Work will be performed at Eglin Air Force Base for completion by December 2022.

• Naval Warfare

  Final test phase begins for Suffren

  9th November 2020

  ​First of six new nuclear attack submarines was handed over to the French Navy on 6 November

• Defence Helicopter

  NATO partner nations launch Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability

  20th November 2020

  Five NATO nations have signed up to develop a new medium class multirole helicopter under NATO's Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC) programme.

• Air Warfare

  Boeing receives new support contract for Saudi F-15 conversion programme

  5th January 2021

  Work is scheduled for completion by December 2022.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  OC-135B Replacement (USAF- Cancelled)

  Programme Background The modification and Treaty Certification works include Digital Visual Imaging System kits, design and development for mission system integration (structural design, interphone communications systems, ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Project 75 Alpha [India]

  The Indian Navy is planning to build a fleet of six next-generation nuclear attack submarines. This is not a new plan; it is a long-awaited ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Project 75 Alpha [India]

  The Indian Navy is planning to build a fleet of six next-generation nuclear attack submarines. This is not a new plan; it is a long-awaited ...

• Submarines: conventional, attack

  Project Sea 1000 (Attack Class) - Cancelled [Australia]

  Programme Background The competition for Australia’s SEA 1000 Future Submarine project for 12 new SSKs was won by the French shipbuilder Naval Group in 2016 ...

• Submarines: nuclear, attack

  Project 75 Alpha/Project 77 (1-2) [India]

  Programme Background Requirements The Indian Navy plans to develop six next-generation nuclear attack submarines (SSNs). The project began in 2015 when the NDA government gave ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Tornado Replacement (F-35A) [Germany]

  Programme Background In March 2020, it emerged that the German government was considering  30 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets to replace 45 nuclear-capable Tornados, although contracts have yet ...

• Submarines: nuclear, attack

  PROSUB - SSN [Brazil]

  Programme Background Following the successful delivery of the four Riachuelo-class SSK, which is due to all enter service between 2020 and 2023, the construction of ...

• Submarines: nuclear, attack

  Khabarovsk Class (Project 09851)

  Khabarovsk  is a special purpose nuclear submarine under construction for the Russian Navy which is thought to be the main launching platform of the Poseidon 'Intercontinental Nuclear-Powered ...

• Submarines: nuclear, attack

  Project 75 Alpha/Project 77 (3-6) [India]

  Programme Background Requirements The Indian Navy plans to develop six next-generation nuclear attack submarines (SSNs). The project began in 2015 when the NDA government gave ...

• Submarines: nuclear, attack

  Second Hand SSNs [Australia]

  Programme Background Timeline In September 2021, it was announced in a trilateral announcement between Australia, the US and the UK that Australia, in a shock ...

• Aircraft carriers

  PANG (Porte Avion Nouvelle Generation) [France]

  Programme Background Timeline At Euronaval in 2018, the French Minister of the Armed Forces, Florance Parly, announced the start of the study phase for the ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | F-35A [United Kingdom]

  Ahead of the NATO meeting held at the Hague at the end of June 2025, the UK announced its intentions to acquire 12 new F-35A ...

• Data links

  Data links | F-35A [United Kingdom]

  Ahead of the NATO meeting held at the Hague at the end of June 2025, the UK announced its intentions to acquire 12 new F-35A ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | F-35A [United Kingdom]

  Ahead of the NATO meeting held at the Hague at the end of June 2025, the UK announced its intentions to acquire 12 new F-35A ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | F-35A [United Kingdom]

  Ahead of the NATO meeting held at the Hague at the end of June 2025, the UK announced its intentions to acquire 12 new F-35A ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Surface-to-surface missiles

  UGM-133 Trident II

  The UGM-133 Trident II, also known as the Trident D5, is a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) developed and produced by Lockheed Martin for the United ...

• Bomber

  Tu-160 Blackjack

  The Tu-160 (NATO reporting name Blackjack) is a strategic bomber designed by Tupolev Design Bureau in Russia. The bomber was designed for the Russian Aerospace ...

• Aircraft carriers

  Porte Avion Nouvelle Generation (PA-Ng)

  The Porte Avion Nouvelle Generation—new generation aircraft carrier (PA-Ng) is intended to replace the Charles de Gaulle in the 2030s/2040s. The programme for the new ...

• Submarines nuclear, ballistic missile

  Typhoon Class (Project 941U)

  The Typhoon-class (Project 941U) was a class of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines that were designed and built by the Soviet Union for the Soviet Navy. ...

• Surface-to-surface missiles

  Iskander-M/E/K

  The Iskander-M (NATO reporting name: SS-26 'Stone') is a short-range ballistic missile. It was the second attempt by Russia to replace the Skud after its ...

• Submarines nuclear, ballistic missile

  SNLE 3G

  The SNLE 3G SSBNs for the French Navy will replace the existing Triomphant-class SSBNs and provide France with a new at-sea deterrence capability with enhanced sensors and ...

• Submarines: nuclear, attack

  Riachuelo Class (SSN)

  As part of the PROSUB project, the Brazilian Navy is acquiring an SSN named SN Álvaro Alberto. The vessel will be built by Itaguaí Construções ...

• Submarines nuclear, ballistic missile

  Delta IV (Delfin) Class (Project 667DRM)

  The Delta IV-class submarines were built for the Soviet Union by Severodvinsk Shipyard. They are part of 43 submarines built as a series of designs ...

• Submarines: nuclear, attack

  Khabarovsk Class (Project 09851)

  The Khabarovsk (Project 09851) is one of two special-purpose submarines being built for the Russian Navy capable of launching the Poseidon 'Intercontinental Nuclear-Powered Nuclear-Armed Autonomous Torpedo'. The ...

• Submarines: nuclear, attack

  Han Class (Type 091)

  The Han class (Type 091) is a nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) in service with the Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). Five submarines were built by ...

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

  Granat-1

  The Granat-series UAS by Kalashnikov Concern (Izhmash Unmanned Systems) – the largest Russian manufacturing company that produces a wide range of precision weapons – includes at least ...

• Submarines nuclear, ballistic missile

  Columbia Class

  The USN’s new Columbia-class SSBN, also known as the SSBN 826-class, is planned to replace the existing Ohio-class boats as the cornerstone of the US ...

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

  Granat-4 (Rubezh-20)

  The Granat-series UAS by Kalashnikov Concern (Izhmash Unmanned Systems) includes at least six tactical variants: the Granat-1, -2, -3, -4, -5 and -6. A popular ...

• Corvettes

  92m Corvette

  At LIMA 2023, ADSB unveiled a new 92m Corvette design. According to the manufacturer, the new multi-role vessel is low-profile and equipped for a range ...

• Bomber

  B-52H Stratofortress

  The B-52H is the final model of the B-52 Stratofortress heavy bomber plane, manufactured by Boeing. The B-52H is currently in service with the US ...