• Special Operations

  Afghan Special Operations Command to double in size

  1st September 2017

  The Afghan National Army Special Operations Command (ANASOC) officially transitioned into a Special Operations Corps on 20 August, which will see the organisation almost double …

• Land Warfare

  MSPO 2017: Poland prepares light vehicle procurement

  31st August 2017

  After years of neglect the Polish Army is finally putting effort into modernising its fleet of 4x4 light all-terrain vehicles.  The force has set up …

• Special Operations

  Georgian SF become NATO certified

  8th September 2017

  The Georgian Special Operations Forces (GEO SOF) has successfully completed NATO certification to operate a Special Operations Task Group (SOTG), defence sources have confirmed to …

• Land Warfare

  Russian MoD orders more Iskander-M

  30th August 2017

  The Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) will receive two further brigade sets of the Iskander-M tactical missile complexes under a $341 million contract announced on …

• Naval Warfare

  Malaysia launches first LCS

  24th August 2017

  Malaysia’s first Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), Maharaja Lela, was launched in a formal ceremony on 24 August at the Boustead Naval Shipyard facility in Lumut.  …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  MQ-1C surpasses flight test goal

  29th August 2017

  General Atomics Aeronautical Systems’ (GA-ASI's) MQ-1C Gray Eagle Extended Range UAS has flown for more than 40 hours during an endurance flight test, the company …

• Defence Helicopter

  Pakistan receives Mi-35M quartet

  29th August 2017

  The Pakistan Army Aviation Corps has received four Mil Mi-35M attack helicopters, the Defence Export Promotion Organisation (DEPO) confirmed in late August. A statement issued …

• Land Warfare

  DSEI 2017: Patria’s containerised mortar system demo'd

  6th September 2017

  Patria’s New Mortar (Nemo) Container has successfully completed its first test firings on a truck platform.  Announced on 1 September, the technology had been through …

• Land Warfare

  Russia spends big on land modernisation

  5th September 2017

  As a sign of its continuing effort to modernise the country's land forces, the Russian MoD inked several high value contracts for new or upgraded equipment during …

• Special Operations

  Venezuela activates new Special Operations Command

  1st September 2017

  The Venezuelan Armed Forces (FANB) formally activated a new Special Operations Command in Maracay, Aragua State on 17 August. The new Special Operations Command is …

• Training

  Malaysian Army inducts simulation system

  27th August 2017

  The Malaysian Army inaugurated its Immersive Virtual Training Simulator (VIRTSIM) on 14 August at Syed Sirajuddin Camp in Gemas. Developed by Motion Reality in the US, …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  MSPO 2017: Raptor hoverbike draws attention

  5th September 2017

  Defence shows and exhibitions often showcase unexpected platforms or designs to the visiting public and VIPs, occasionally presenting a system or technology that flies in …

• Military Logistics

  PLAN commissions largest supply ship

  4th September 2017

  The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) commissioned its first Type 901 fast supply ship in the southern city of Zhanjiang in Guangdong Province on 1 …

• Defence Helicopter

  US DoD inks Chinook deal with Saudi Arabia

  25th August 2017

  Boeing has been awarded a $223 million FMS contract for eight CH-47F Chinook, as part of a wider multiyear deal with Saudi Arabia, the US DoD has announced. …

• Land Warfare

  MSPO 2017: Raytheon details Patriot offset

  7th September 2017

  Raytheon has set out more details of its proposed offset solution to Poland, as the US looks to finalise the FMS case for the Patriot …

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 - 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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]

  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: 245 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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.

• 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.

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...