• Naval Warfare

  Polish submarine force faces solitary confinement

  5th February 2021

  The Polish submarine force will be reduced to a single boat by the end of 2021, throwing into even starker relief the long-standing need to expand the fleet.

• Naval Warfare

  In focus – composition, aims and future of UK carrier strike

  17th February 2021

  ​Deployment of the UK’s Carrier Strike Group (CSG) to the Indo-Pacific in a few months is intended to be its defining military operation of the year, during which its armed forces are likely to face cuts amid a significant downturn in spending.

• Defence Notes

  IDEX 2021: Spotlight shines on procurement programmes

  22nd February 2021

  Data and case studies from the Shephard Defence Insight team illustrate the state of play in Middle Eastern defence procurement.

• Land Warfare

  Thai army chooses light howitzers from France

  14th January 2021

  The new light howitzer from France was chosen due to its automatic direction-finding and fire control systems.

• Digital Battlespace

  Sweden orders integrated ground-based air defence solution

  10th December 2020

  Saab to provide new and upgraded radars under five-year contract

• Air Warfare

  RAAF to expand Poseidon posse by a pair

  4th January 2021

  With maritime threats continuing to abound, Australia exercises an option for two more Boeing maritime patrol aircraft.

• Naval Warfare

  Singapore creates new flotilla of tugs and rejuvenated warships

  26th January 2021

  Singapore can free up its more capable naval vessels by fielding its new flotilla of tugs and old warships to monitor Singapore waters.

• Naval Warfare

  UK carrier strike capability reaches IOC milestone

  4th January 2021

  UK hits the ground running in 2021 with the declaration that HMS Queen Elizabeth and its carrier strike group have reached initial operating capability.

• Air Warfare

  Singapore strengthens integrated air defence network

  18th December 2020

  Singapore has created an air defence umbrella over the island nation with the integration of new assets such as ASTER-30 missiles.

• Land Warfare

  PzH 2000 training underlines close Germany-Hungary ties

  1st February 2021

  Hungarian troops continue to familiarise themselves with the PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzer, procurement of which is one example of an ambitious modernisation programme.

• Naval Warfare

  Romanian coastal defence missile plan seeks parliamentary assent

  15th January 2021

  Romanian defence ministry aims to acquire at least four Naval Strike Missile launchers and associated equipment from the US via the FMS programme.

• Naval Warfare

  Philippines orders attack craft from Israel

  2nd February 2021

  Although some acquisition programmes are stalled, the Philippine Navy is now assured of receiving nine attack boats from Israel Shipyards.

• Land Warfare

  EU member states sign a deal to develop the European standard UGS

  17th December 2020

  Seven EU member states, a consortium composed of European companies and the European Commission signed a €32,6 million ($ 39.68 million) agreement under the iMUGS project. This deal will allow the group to start working on the European standard unmanned terrestrial system.

• Land Warfare

  Northrop Grumman to supply XM813 Bushmaster Chain Guns for US Army Strykers

  17th December 2020

  The US Army has recently awarded Northrop Grumman a deal under the Stryker Medium Caliber Weapon System 30mm Lethality Upgrade programme. The base contract and first order call for 95 XM813 Bushmaster Chain Guns with initial deliveries beginning in 2022.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Composite rubber tracks add advantages to robotic vehicle systems (sponsored)

  27th January 2021

  This article is brought to you by Soucy International Inc. As armies boost their investments in robotic and autonomous systems (RAS), the benefits of composite rubber …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military helicopters - multirole

  HH-60W - Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH)

  Background In 2010, the USAF announced the replacement of the HH-60G with a new Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH), and in 2012, the request for proposals ...

• 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, ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  Light Combat Helicopter (India - Air Force)

  Programme Background Requirement India's requirement for light attack helicopters capable of operating at high altitudes became apparent during the 1999 Kargil War. Originally planned to reach ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  Light Combat Helicopter (India - Army)

  Programme Background Requirement India's requirement for light attack helicopters capable of operating at high altitudes became apparent during the 1999 Kargil War. Originally planned to reach ...

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

  Orlan-10 [Russian Navy]

  Background Frigate Augmentation Before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the country planned to augment its Admiral Gorshkov class frigates with indigenously developed Orlan-10 ...

• Loitering munitions

  Loitering Munition [Switzerland]

  Background Announcement In a February 2023 interview with Swiss news outlet CH-Media, Swiss army chief Thomas Süssli stated that the country was considering acquiring loitering munitions ...

• Destroyers

  Canadian Surface Combatant/River Class (1-3) [Canada]

  Development and Procurement Requirements Fifteen frigates are being procured to replace the Royal Canadian Navy's 12 ageing Halifax-class frigates and the now-retired Iroquois-class destroyers with ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Shahed-171 (ANSU-200) [Venezuela]

  Background Independence Day Parade Venezuela operates the ANSU-200, a UAV with many visual similarities to the Shahed-171, which Defence Insight believes is a domestically produced ...

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

  Seeker 400 - First Batch (UAE)

  Programme Background The UAE has a long history of transactions with Denel Dynamics. The country has been purchasing various Seeker systems from as far back ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Pegasus SIGINT Aircraft (Follow-On) [Germany]

  In 2021, Germany awarded a contract to Hensoldt for the Kalaetron integrated SIGINT system to be installed on three Bombardier Global 6000 aircraft, forming the Persistent ...

• Data links

  Data links | Pegasus SIGINT Aircraft (Follow-On) [Germany]

  In 2021, Germany awarded a contract to Hensoldt for the Kalaetron integrated SIGINT system to be installed on three Bombardier Global 6000 aircraft, forming the Persistent ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Pegasus SIGINT Aircraft (Follow-On) [Germany]

  In 2021, Germany awarded a contract to Hensoldt for the Kalaetron integrated SIGINT system to be installed on three Bombardier Global 6000 aircraft, forming the Persistent ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Pegasus SIGINT Aircraft (Follow-On) [Germany]

  In 2021, Germany awarded a contract to Hensoldt for the Kalaetron integrated SIGINT system to be installed on three Bombardier Global 6000 aircraft, forming the Persistent ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  AW101-Norway

  AgustaWestland is also providing initial support and training services, including spares at each of the operating bases and aircrew training. It will then provide performance ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Joint Maritime Multi-Mission System (J3MS)/SIGINT Ship [Italy]

  The Italian Navy is now conducting de-risk studies to replace Elettra with a new Joint Maritime Multi-Mission System (J3MS) ship. The vessel will feature a ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: aerial targets

  Lakshya

  The Lakshya is an aerial target developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for training fighter pilots in air-to-air combat or ground-based air ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  StreamCaster Mini 4210

  The StreamCaster Mini 4210 (SM4210) is a single-channel data radio (SCDR) that can create MANET mesh networks. It is currently in use with the US ...

• Air: mission management systems

  FireStorm

  FireStorm is an integrated targeting and mission management system for air-to-ground operations such as close air support, ground targeting and call for fire. It is ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AW129

  The AW129 Mangusta (Mongoose, service designation) is a tandem two-seat, twin-engine attack helicopter originally developed for the Italian Army and subsequently developed into a multirole combat ...

• Air: mission management systems

  CMA-9000

  The CMA-9000  Flight and Radio Management System (FMS/RMS) is manufactured by the Canadian firm CMC Electronics. It is designed for a wide range of commercial, ...

• Air: aerial targets

  Chukar III

  The Chukar III, based on Northrop Grumman’s BQM-74E developed for the USN, is a high subsonic aerial jet target for export customers.

• Sea: weapon training, Military - USVs

  Sprite

  The Sprite is a USV developed by QinetiQ and designed for live-fire training exercises. 

• Air: aerial targets

  Banshee Whirlwind

  Originally made by Meggitt Target Systems, a company QinetiQ acquired in 2016, the Banshee is an aerial target and the first drone in the Banshee series.  ...

• Land: range systems and targets

  Badger UGV-T

  Badger is a remotely controlled, lightly armoured, all-terrain vehicle designed to exercise anti-armour combat systems. No permanent installations are required; Badger is transportable to and ...

• Sea: weapon training, Military - USVs

  Albatros-T

  The Aselsan Albatros-T is a high-speed, unmanned, surface-target boat manufactured by Aselsan. It is designed to be used as a moving target in shooting drills.

• Air: Integrated cockpit systems

  Integrated Avionics Suite

  Northrup Grumman's Integrated Avionics Suite is an open architecture mission equipment package, which can be deployed on a number of rotorcraft platforms. It consists of ...

• Air: aerial targets

  DO-SK6

  The DO-SK6 is a modular design tow body adaptable for various functions.

• Naval: RF/IR/acoustic decoys

  Integrated Decoy System

  Rafael's integrated ship-defence decoy system features real-time decoy deployment, fixed and/or rotating launchers and a computerised decoy controller that can be integrated with a ship’s ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Integrated Combat System

  The Integrated Combat System (ICS) is a combat management system being developed for the US Navy. The project, currently led by Lockheed Martin, aims to ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  Kuwait Air Force F/A-18 TOFT

  L3Harris Technologies has delivered two F/A-18C Tactical Operational Flight Trainers (TOFTs) built for the Kuwait Air Force (KAF). The high-fidelity TOFTs replace the KAF’s F/A-18 ...