• Uncrewed Vehicles

  UK picks Skydio X2D as platform for new nano-UAS capabilities

  18th May 2022

  X2D drones from US-based Skydio with AI algorithms and a 3D scanning capability will be provided under Spiral 4 of the UK MoD Future Capabilities Group nano-UAS framework programme.

• Naval Warfare

  Indo-Pacific 2022: Rise of the maritime machines in Australia

  13th May 2022

  Although lagging behind the utilisation of UAVs, militaries are now exploring new applications for and types of UUVs and USVs. Australia is no exception.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Footage suggests first recorded use of Russian UGV in Ukraine

  13th April 2022

  The most proven and combat-ready uncrewed ground vehicle (UGV) in the Russian army's possession has reportedly appeared on a Ukraine battlefield.

• Defence Notes

  Armenia minds the gap on loitering munitions and UAVs

  11th April 2022

  Indigenously developed loitering munitions and UAVs took centre stage at the recent ArmHiTec exhibition in the Armenian capital Yerevan.

• Naval Warfare

  UDT 2022 heads to the Grey Zone (Sponsored)

  23rd May 2022

  In June, the underwater defence technology community heads to Rotterdam for UDT 2022 to explore aspects of underwater defence and security that are of increasing importance to naval forces and governments worldwide, under the theme of ‘the Grey Zone: Undersea Technologies to Protect Maritime Trade, Operations & Infrastructure’.

• Training

  USAF ACMI pods to undergo encryption upgrade

  13th May 2022

  Cubic is to install NSA-certified encryption for its P5 Combat Training System ACMI pods

• Land Warfare

  Echoshield 4D radar addresses C-UAS demands

  18th May 2022

  Several DoD and overseas customers have already pre-purchased the EchoShield 4D C-UAS radar ahead of testing, according to manufacturer Echodyne.

• Land Warfare

  Russian tank-based combat UGV faces challenges to service entry

  12th April 2022

  UralVagonZavod is set to commence live-fire trials of a family of armed uncrewed ground vehicles based on the T-72 MBT chassis. This design approach has a cheaper development path, but creates an overly heavy platform with operational limitations.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Orbital UAV and Anduril sign MoU for uncrewed concepts and technical solutions

  11th May 2022

  Orbital UAV will deliver a test engine to Anduril in the coming weeks for evaluation.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  XTEND develops second-generation ISR quadcopter

  4th May 2022

  Israeli company XTEND has created a second-generation Xtender sUAS, and it has also sealed two partnerships to improve perimeter security and AI capabilities.

• Naval Warfare

  Royal Navy taps up Atlas Elektronik for autonomous mine-hunting systems

  13th April 2022

  The new contract continues the RN's push to develop its autonomous mine-hunting capabilities.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Kaman forecasts tenfold return on new KARGO expeditionary UAV

  13th May 2022

  As development of Kaman's KARGO UAV continues at pace, the company is anticipating high demand based on interest from the USMC and talks with the US Air Force and US Army.

• Naval Warfare

  Indo-Pacific 2022: Australia is set to trigger MCM tender

  13th May 2022

  Three industry contenders have emerged for the Australian navy's quest for a new unmanned MCM system.

• Naval Warfare

  Naval Warfare magazine: Aircraft carriers; European joint projects and more

  6th May 2022

  Read the latest edition of Naval Warfare for free in our app or on your desktop.

• Defence Notes

  Challenges and opportunities abound for US in autonomy research

  19th April 2022

  DARPA continues to explore the potential of uncrewed platforms across the air, land and sea domains — although industry, academia and government agree that challenges must still be overcome.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | Heavy Lift Capability (UASHLC) [UK]

  The Royal Navy's (RN) Uncrewed Aerial Systems Heavy Lift Capability (UASHLC), or Heavy Lift Challenge, is a developmental programme exploring cargo-carrying uncrewed technology and new acquisition approaches.  Phase ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | Heavy Lift Capability (UASHLC) [UK]

  The Royal Navy's (RN) Uncrewed Aerial Systems Heavy Lift Capability (UASHLC), or Heavy Lift Challenge, is a developmental programme exploring cargo-carrying uncrewed technology and new acquisition approaches.  Phase ...

• Minehunters

  Project SEA 1905 - MMCMMS [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirements Australia is looking to acquire up to eight new advanced mine countermeasures/hydrographic survey vessels under the Project SEA 1905 Maritime Mine Countermeasures ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  StormShroud: Autonomous Collaboration Platform (ACP) [UK]

  Background Autonomous Collaboration Platform (ACP) Strategy Reflecting on lessons learned from the cancellation of the Mosquito programme, the Royal Air Force (RAF) redefined the role ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Land Autonomous Collaborative Platform (LACP) (Project NYX) [UK]

  Background Autonomous Collaboration Platform (ACP) Strategy Reflecting on lessons learned from the cancellation of the Mosquito programme, the Royal Air Force (RAF) redefined the role ...

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

  Thor [Israel]

  Background Various Contracts On 3 December 2024, the Israeli Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced it had purchased “advanced drones and autonomous systems” from Elbit Systems in various ...

• Transport

  VC-25B - USAF

  The modifications to the 747-8 aircraft will include an electrical power upgrade with dual Auxiliary Power Units that are usable in flight, a mission communication ...

• 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 UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  T-150 (Royal Marines) [UK]

  Background Trials In late 2020, the T-150 participated in Autonomous Advance Force (AAF) trials in Crpyus and dropped supplies to 40 Commando. The MoD also ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  Hürkuş-C Advanced Armed Trainer (Turkey)

  The Hurjet-C development programme funding was included in the Hurkus-B procurement contract awarded by  the Turkish Undersecretariat for Defence Industries in December 2013.  The Hurjet will ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | Project Proteus [UK]

  Project Proteus is an RN and Leonardo effort to design and develop an uncrewed helicopter demonstrator that could provide an innovative alternative to existing crewed ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | Project Proteus [UK]

  Project Proteus is an RN and Leonardo effort to design and develop an uncrewed helicopter demonstrator that could provide an innovative alternative to existing crewed ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  LANCA (Loyal Wingman): Autonomous Collaboration Platform (ACP) [UK]

  Background Project Mosquito & Cancellation Beginning in 2019, the UK’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL), in collaboration with the Royal Air Force (RAF), began ...

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

  T-150 (Ukraine Aid) [UK]

  Programme Background Virtual Address On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. On 3 May 2022, the UK's Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, virtually addressed the Ukrainian ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Medium UGVs

  Rook

  The Rook is a 6x6 multipurpose UGV developed by Elbit in partnership with Roboteam. Conceived to carry heavy payloads in a wide range of environments, the ...

• Medium UGVs

  Arion-SMET

  The Arion-SMET is a fully electric 6x6 multipurpose UGV developed and produced by Hanwha Defense. With a payload of 550kg, the UGV can travel for up ...

• Light UGVs

  Oto-TRP7-HS

  The Oto-TRP7-HS (Homeland Security) is a semi-autonomous, electric-powered, tracked UGV. It is designed to undertake a number of homeland security missions. 

• Medium UGVs

  Rex Mk II

  The Rex Mk II is a UGV manufactured by Isreal Aerospace Industries (IAI). It is a multimission system designed to provide direct support to manoeuvring infantry ...

• Heavy UGVs

  Mission Master CXT

  Part of Rheinmetall's Mission Master family, The Mission Mater Compact Extreme Terrain, or Mission Master CXT, is a rugged UGV designed to transport heavy payloads ...

• Medium UGVs

  Barkan

  The Barkan, or Barkan-2, is a Turkish UGV manufactured by Havelsan. A fully electric propulsion system powers the tracked, modular vehicle, which can be armed with a 7.62mm ...

• Heavy UGVs

  Shadow Rider

  Unveiled for the first time at IDEF 2019 and showcased with improvements at IDEF 2021, the Shadow Rider is a UGV developed and built by ...

• Medium UGVs

  Ermine UGV

  At Eurosatory 2024, Rheinmetall presented the Ermine family of tactical vehicles. The modular Ermine family currently consists of a UGV, a side-by-side buggy and a ...

• Medium UGVs

  Marker

  The Marker is a Russian UGV manufactured by Androidnaya Tekhnika. Development started in 2018, and the three-tonne UGV is now capable of supporting anti-tank missile systems, coaxial ...

• Medium UGVs

  Centurio

  At Eurosatory 2024, KNDS unveiled the Centurio family of 4x4 UGVs. Based on the Phobos UGV by SOGECLAIR, Centurio has been developed in the 2024-30 ...

• Medium UGVs

  Viking

  The Viking is a high-mobility 6x6 multipurpose UGV developed and produced by IDV Robotics. The UGV can be configured to perform different missions, from logistic ...

• Heavy UGVs

  Oshkosh Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV)

  The Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) is a tracked UGV developed by Oshkoshl in partnership with Pratt & Miller and QinetiQ. In September 2023, as part of ...

• Light UGVs

  Quator/Quator XL

  Quator is a scout, observation, inspection and detection robot suitable for rapid-response scenarios. Quator XL builds on the transportation capabilities of the smaller version, weighing ...

• 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 ...

• Medium UGVs

  Titan UGV

  The Titan large UGV is a hybrid system built on the Milrem Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System (THeMIS) combined with QinetiQ North America's Tactical Robot Controller ...