• Defence Notes

  Boom time has arrived for South Korean defence exports (Opinion)

  9th October 2023

  The Asian country to make the most spectacular and stellar success in terms of arms exports is none other than South Korea, a nation of 51.7 million citizens.

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2023: AM General underlines low-recoil technology benefits on towed artillery

  17th October 2023

  AM General's latest developments in low-recoil technology, on show at AUSA 2023, could offer a 60% reduction in recoil force.

• Defence Notes

  Germany to provide Ukraine with additional air-defence systems and Gepard anti-aircraft guns

  11th October 2023

  The German government has announced a billion-euro-plus package of equipment for Ukraine which includes Patriot and IRIS-T air defence systems and Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns.

• Air Warfare

  Spanish Navy orders eight Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk helicopters

  13th October 2023

  The delivery of eight Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk maritime helicopters to the Spanish Navy has been slated for completion by March 2027.

• Digital Battlespace

  Airbus and Northrop Grumman partner for UK military satellite comms programme

  23rd October 2023

  A new collaboration between the US and European aviation giants will attempt to unite the space interests of US, UK and European partners via the UK's SKYNET programme.

• Air Warfare

  US approves Spain's $2.8 billion Patriot purchase

  6th October 2023

  Spain set to add four Patriot Configuration-3+ Modernized Fire Unit to its armoury, along with four AN/MPQ-65 radar sets and four AN/MSQ-132 engagement control stations.

• Land Warfare

  The M109-52 rolls into Washington DC

  10th October 2023

  BAE Systems has shown the M109-52 155 mm self-propelled (SP) artillery system for the first time at AUSA 2023.

• Naval Warfare

  HII reaches milestone in construction of USS Arkansas submarine

  29th September 2023

  HII's Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division has completed the pressure hull for the Virginia-class submarine USS Arkansas (SSN 800) meaning that all of the hull sections were joined to form a single watertight unit, marking a significant milestone in the construction process.

• Air Warfare

  DSEI 2023: Paramount announces new orders and weapon options for Mwari recon/strike aircraft

  14th September 2023

  Paramount Aerospace Industries has announced additional customer deliveries of its Mwari reconnaissance, surveillance, and strike aircraft, in addition to integration of a weapon management system and command and control base

• Naval Warfare

  AUSA 2023: Steadicopter aims to fly high with new rotary UAVs

  19th October 2023

  Israeli manufacturer Steadicopter presented its new Black Eagle and Golden Eagle rotary unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for the first time in the US at AUSA. Shephard spoke with Steadicopter CEO Itai Toren about what makes these Eagles different from other birds in the market.

• Naval Warfare

  Greek frigate launch heralds Hellenic Navy modernisation

  11th October 2023

  The launch of the first of three new Kimon-class (FDI HN) frigates for Greece on 4 October 2023 at French shipyard Naval Group represents the beginning of a significant recapitalisation of the Hellenic Navy fleet, which is in urgent need of modernisation.

• Naval Warfare

  Russia signs agreement for Black Sea naval base

  6th October 2023

  Abkhazia has offered Russia an alternative Black Sea base to ports in Crimea where it has faced attacks by Ukrainian forces, according to Russian state media.

• Naval Warfare

  US government seeks an additional US$55 billion to support Israel and Ukraine

  9th November 2023

  The Biden administration plans to supply a US$44.4 billion defence package to Kyiv and a $10.6 billion to Jerusalem to address the critical security needs of both countries.

• Defence Notes

  The centre of gravity of ‘Axis of Evil 2.0’ shifts eastwards (Opinion)

  14th September 2023

  Russia might be at the tip of the spear in terms of authoritarian aggression, but it has plenty of backers in the shape of countries like China, Iran and North Korea. Others, like India, try to duplicitously sit on the fence.

• Air Warfare

  Inside Hamas' Arsenal: Rockets, drones, loitering munitions and tactics deployed in the assault on Israel

  10th October 2023

  Hamas has stunned experts with a sophisticated assault on Israel, leveraging Iranian-backed weaponry and training. The attack, featuring swarms of rockets and UAVs, has revealead a diverse arsenal, including the the Al-Zawari UAV and the repurposed Shebab drone.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  M1135 Stryker NBC Reconnaissance Vehicle

  Programme Background According to the DSCA's notification to Congress, the acquisition of 50 M1135 Strykers was intended to allow the Iraqi government to identify harmful ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  Ka-52M Alligator-Russia

  Programme Background The loss of 66 Ka-52s and 8 Mi-24s damaged and/or destroyed leaves the Russian Military with an acute need of replacements.  The Ka-52M will ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  HH-60W - Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH)

  According to the FY2021 Base funding, the HH-60W helicopter unit cost is $43.2 million. The HH-60W will be capable of employment day or night, in ...

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

  MALE UAVs [Thailand]

  Background Roadmap In February 2024, the RTAF unveiled its White Paper 2024. Incorporating lessons from the Russo-Ukrainian War, the Israel-Hamas War, and other events such ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  BMPT Terminator

  Despite having earlier rejected the BMPT vehicle, the Russian MoD tested BMPT prototypes in Syria, where the vehicles performed well in combat conditions. This culminated ...

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

  Tactical-Level Armed Drone [Thailand]

  Programme Background Roadmap In February 2024, the RTAF unveiled its White Paper 2024. Incorporating lessons from the Russo-Ukrainian War, the Israel-Hamas War, and other events ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Micro/Nano Drone Swarms [Thailand]

  Programme Background Roadmap In February 2024, the RTAF unveiled its White Paper 2024. Incorporating lessons from the Russo-Ukrainian War, the Israel-Hamas War, and other events ...

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

  M Solar-X [Thailand]

  Programme Background Roadmap In February 2024, the RTAF unveiled its White Paper 2024. Incorporating lessons from the Russo-Ukrainian War, the Israel-Hamas War, and other events ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS) [Thailand]

  Programme Background Roadmap In February 2024, the RTAF unveiled its White Paper 2024. Incorporating lessons from the Russo-Ukrainian War, the Israel-Hamas War, and other events ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  MUM-T Drone [Thailand]

  Programme Background Roadmap In February 2024, the RTAF unveiled its White Paper 2024. Incorporating lessons from the Russo-Ukrainian War, the Israel-Hamas War, and other events ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Boxer (Heavy Weapons Infantry Carrier) [Germany]

  Programme Background The German Army is believed to require a total of 43 Boxer Heavy Weapons Infantry Carriers to equip its Division 2027. 36 of ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Atlet [Russia]

  Programme Background The Military Industrial Company (VPK) began development of the Atlet 4x4 armoured vehicle in 2017 to meet a requirement from the Russian Army ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Patrul-A (Military Police)

  Programme Background The Russian Military Police is increasingly being called upon to carry out patrols and escort convoys in support of international peacekeeping missions. It ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Boxer (Heavy Weapons Infantry Carrier) [Germany]

  Programme Background The German Army is believed to require a total of 43 Boxer Heavy Weapons Infantry Carriers to equip its Division 2027. 36 of ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  IAR-99 Replacement (Romania)

  On 29 August 2017, Leonardo announced that the IAR-99 trainer technology demonstrator (TD) will be fitted with company's Vixen 500E AESA radar. The Vixen 500E AESA ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Land: infantry weapon simulators

  Less Than Lethal Weapon Simulators

  Meggitt produces wireless simulators for the X26 Taser and chemical spray less-lethal weapons. These accessories are supported with specialised courseware.

• Land: air defence radar

  JY-27

  The JY-27 is a Chinese long-range surveillance radar manufactured by ECRIEE. It was developed to provide early warning information and detect low-observable air targets. It ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  Rychag-AVM

  KRET’s Rychag-AVM radio frequency jammer is designed to perform electronic attack against hostile communications and radar systems. The Rychag-AVM ensemble is mounted onboard dedicated Mil ...

• Surface-to-surface missiles

  Hwasong-6

  The Hwasong-6 is a North Korean tactical ballistic missile based on the Hwasong-5, which itself is based on the Soviet R-17 Elbrus. Its NATO reporting ...

• Land: counter-IED simulators

  Large IED Trainer

  The Large IED Trainer can be integrated into a number of training scenarios including convoy roadside bombs, vehicle-borne IEDs, artillery/mortar impact, vehicle search and/or destruction, ...

• Core systems: cameras and IR detectors

  Reveal D&I

  Reveal D&I; is a real-time gas detection and identification chemical imaging software for hyperspectral data. This software allows the real-time detection of a large portfolio ...

• Guided munitions

  KAB-500/1500

  The KAB-500 and KAB-1500 were Soviet electro-optical TV-guided bombs that were part of the KAB family. It is thought that this family of weapons were ...

• Land: infantry weapon simulators

  Weapons Technology

  Laser Shot designs, engineers and fabricates simulated recoil weapons, drop-in recoil conversion kits, inert training weapons and laser inserts. The company offers individual and crew-served simulated ...

• Weapons Cases

  CP Cases can supply weapon cases customisable to customer requirements, including made-to-order sizes. The cases are produced using rotomoulding, for extra strength and impact resistance. ...

• Core systems: cameras and IR detectors

  Hyper-Cam

  The Hyper-Cam is a passive IR hyperspectral imaging system that combines high spatial and spectral resolution. It provides real-time radiometrically calibrated data for gas and ...

• Surface-to-surface missiles

  Fateh-110

  The Fateh-110 is a short-range ballistic missile produced in Iran with help from China.

• Core systems: cameras and IR detectors

  HD-IR

  HD-IR high-resolution cameras have high sensitivity for surveillance and airborne mapping applications. The camera features a four-position filter wheel, 1.3MP spatial resolution and an IP67-certified ...

• Trainer

  T-4

  Developed by Kawasaki, the T-4 is an intermediate jet trainer successor to the T-33A and Fuji T-1A/B. Its first flight was performed on 29 July ...

• Heavy UGVs

  Uran-9

  The Uran-9 is a Russian UGV designed to support troops operating in urban environments. Equipped with EO/IR sensors and typically armed with a 30mm automatic cannon, ...

• UAS: Integrated systems - uncrewed

  Bright Onyx Chemical Sensor

  Active multi-spectral chemical sensor operating in the 5µm region. The Bright Onyx sensor must operate at UAV airspeeds and ranges with detection sensitivities of 10ppmm ...