• Naval Warfare

  BAE starts building second UK OPV

  9th June 2015

  BAE Systems in Glasgow has started construction on the second Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) for the Royal Navy, the future HMS Medway, on 8 June. …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Paris Air Show: Watching the Watchkeeper

  8th June 2015

  The UK’s Watchkeeper tactical UAS could operate from austere airstrips by 2017, it has emerged. During a media briefing at the Thales facility at Gennevilliers …

• Defence Helicopter

  UK buys new heli simulators

  3rd June 2015

  Lockheed Martin and AgustaWestland have been awarded contracts totalling £80 million to deliver synthetic training systems for the UK's Chinook Mk6 and Merlin Mk4/4A helicopters, it was announced …

• Land Warfare

  Rolls-Royce engines for UK Scout

  1st June 2015

  Rolls-Royce has received a contract order for 589 MTU Series 199 diesel engines for the British Army's new Scout Specialist Vehicle (SV), it announced on …

• Digital Battlespace

  China PLA cyber plans catch-up

  1st June 2015

  The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) continues to struggle to find a role for cyber warfare in its strategic framework, a leading expert has described. China …

• Land Warfare

  MCL wins UK electronic surveillance contract

  29th May 2015

  Marlborough Communications Limited (MCL) has been awarded a contract from the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) for its Light Weight Electronic Surveillance Capability (LWESC), it …

• Defence Helicopter

  Thales selected for UK's Merlin airborne surveillance helicopters

  26th May 2015

  The UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) and prime contractor Lockheed Martin have selected the Thales Searchwater radar and Cerberus mission system for the Royal Navy’s …

• Defence Notes

  QinetiQ signs UK aircrew research contract

  25th May 2015

  QinetiQ has signed a £5 million contract with the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) that will see it conduct research to improve military aircrew …

• Military Logistics

  BAE Systems to upgrade UK Watchman radars

  22nd May 2015

  BAE Systems has been awarded a £7 million contract from the UK Ministry of Defence to upgrade four Watchman radars as part of the Marshall …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  IMDEX Asia: J+S unveils an array of products

  22nd May 2015

  UK company J+S showcased a new family of low-profile miniaturised acoustic arrays at IMDEX Asia, the first time it has displayed the technology in the …

• Naval Warfare

  IMDEX Asia: QinetiQ ViewFinder fuses sensor data

  22nd May 2015

  QinetiQ will unveil a new combat management system for naval vessels called ViewFinder at the IMDEX Asia 2015 exhibition. The system, developed as part of R&D …

• Digital Battlespace

  UK stalls on AWACS upgrades

  22nd May 2015

  The UK is falling behind with Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) upgrades due to budgetary constraints, according to officials at the Boeing San Antonio …

• Defence Helicopter

  IMDEX Asia: AgustaWestland pitches AW101 to Asian market

  21st May 2015

  AgustaWestland has launched a marketing drive of its AW101 medium multirole helicopter in Asia, with an eye on several opportunities in the region. In particular, …

• Naval Warfare

  IMDEX Asia: Royal Navy still sees responsibilities in Asia

  21st May 2015

  The Royal Navy wants to remain an active force in Asia even though it now lacks ‘striking activity’ in the region, a senior officer from …

• Naval Warfare

  IMDEX Asia: ST Kinetics to move Humdinga into production

  20th May 2015

  Singapore Technologies Kinetics (STK) plans to move the Humdinga amphibious 4x4 truck into production this year, and is confident of securing a launch customer shortly. …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Loitering munitions

  Nyan OWE [UK]

  Background Transparency notice On 13 February 2026, the UK MoD published a transparency notice concerning OWE Nyan, specifically, the procurement of OWE drones for operational ...

• Loitering munitions

  FPV & Attack Drones (Ukraine Aid) [UK & Norway]

  Background £450 million On 11 April 2025, the UK MoD announced a £450 million package for Ukraine, which included £350 million from the UK from this ...

• Loitering munitions

  Altius 600M & Altius 700M (Ukraine Aid) [UK]

  Programme Background Anduril On 6 March 2025, the UK MoD and John Healey, the Secretary of State for Defence, announced a package to help counter Russia's aggression against ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Fleet Solid Support (FSS) (1-3) [UK]

  Background Requirement The 2015 Strategic Defence & Security Review (SDSR) highlighted the requirement for three Military Afloat Reach & Sustainability (MARS) Fleet Solid Support (FSS) vessels ...

• Military UAS - small

  AR3 (Ukraine Aid) [UK]

  Background £270 Million investment On 15 September 2025, the UK MoD noted that, since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the UK ...

• 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 ...

• Military UAS - mini

  30,000 FPV Drones (Ukraine Aid) [UK]

  Programme Background IDCC On 9 January 2025, the UK MoD announced that 30,000 FPV drones would be sent to Ukraine after the awarding of £45 million ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Project Tiquila [UK]

  Programme Background Tender Notice On 18 September 2020, the MoD Combat Air Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) Team published a tender notice for a system integrator ...

• Military UAS - micro

  First Person View (FPV) Drones (Ukraine Aid) [UK]

  Programme Background 2024/2025 Military Aid Package On 12 January 2024, the UK government announced it would provide Ukraine with £2.5 billion ($3.2 billion) in military ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  New Medium Helicopter (NMH) [UK]

  Background NMH Market Interest Day On 11 November 2021, the MoD communicated the requirements of the £1 billion ($1.34 billion) New Medium Helicopter (NMH) programme ...

• Fighter - naval

  F-35B [UK]

  Programme Background The total cost of the currently funded programme as reported through the UK Major Projects Report is expected to be £10.5 billion ($13.5 ...

• Transport

  Command Support Air Transport Recapitalisation [UK]

  Programme Background The tender, originally released on 28 October 2021, required industry bidders to put forward aircraft that can achieve a minimum unrefuelled range of ...

• Loitering munitions

  Project Brakestop [UK]

  Background Information notice On 25 September 2024, the UK MoD published a prior information notice for Project Brakestop, informing industry of the upcoming competition. Requirements ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | AUKUS-SSNs/SSN(R) Astute Replacement Programme [UK]

  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has begun the planning process for the Astute class replacement programme referred to as SSN-Replacement (SSN(R)). In September 2021, it was announced ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | AUKUS-SSNs/SSN(R) Astute Replacement Programme [UK]

  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has begun the planning process for the Astute class replacement programme referred to as SSN-Replacement (SSN(R)). In September 2021, it was announced ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Major networking projects

  Project Marshall

  The Joint Military Air Traffic Services project was initiated by the UK MoD in November 2005 to identify and evaluate options for the future delivery ...

• Light UGVs

  T7

  The T7 is a multi-mission robotic system designed for military, police and hazardous missions. At DSEI 2017, the UK MoD awarded the Harris Corporation a ...

• Directed energy weapons

  DragonFire

  DragonFire is a laser weapon system built for the UK MoD and manufactured by a consortium of manufacturers. The primary manufacturer is MBDA, though they ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  ASTOR FBFCT

  The Fixed Base Flight Crew Trainer (FBFCT) is a Level 5+ FTD for the UK RAF’s Airborne Standoff Radar (ASTOR) platform. The ASTOR FBFCT is ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Warthog

  The Warthog is based on the ST Kinetics Bronco all terrain tracked carrier (ATTC) and was developed to meet a UK MoD urgent operational requirement ...

• Major networking projects

  Skynet 6 SATCOM

  Skynet 6 is designed to replace Skynet 5. The PFI contract for Skynet 5,  held by Paradigm Secure Communications and Airbus DS, ends in 2022. As ...

• Air-launched ASW torpedoes, Ship-launched torpedoes

  Sting Ray Mod 1

  The Sting Ray Mod 1 is an air- and surface-launched, lightweight ASW torpedo. It can be deployed from frigates, helicopters and maritime patrol aircraft against ...

• Major networking projects

  DTT

  Raytheon UK is working with the UK MoD to deliver a Defence Targeting Toolset (DTT) capability. Aimed initially at land operations and eventually extending to ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  RFA Proteus (Vard 3 08)

  RFA Proteus serves as the launchpad for remotely operated vehicles and is the newest UK seabed warfare vessel. The ship, bought by the UK MoD as MV ...

• Major networking projects

  Skynet 5 SATCOM

  Airbus is the service provider for the UK MoD Skynet 5 private finance initiative contract, signed in October 2003 and now worth $5.6 billion. Airbus ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  UK MFTS

  The Military Flying Training System (MFTS) programme, is a private finance initiative involving the MoD and Ascent, a JV of Lockheed Martin and Babcock, which was ...

• Trucks and utility vehicles - 6x6

  Wheeled Tanker

  The Oshkosh Wheeled Tanker is a high-performance tactical vehicle, designed and built for the UK MoD in order to replace the existing fleet of legacy ...

• Loitering munitions

  Dart 250

  The Dart 250 is a jet-powered One Way Effect (OWE) with a range of 250 km and a maximum speed of 400 km/h. According to reports, the Dart ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  UK MSHATF

  The Medium Support Helicopter Aircrew Training Facility (MSHATF) opened for training at RAF Benson, England in July 1999. It provides training services to personnel from ...

• Data links

  AN/URC-138

  The AN/URC-138 is a Link 16 interoperable terminal originally developed for the Sea Harrier. It has the same Link 16 crypto as JTIDS/MIDS. The system ...