• 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.

• Naval Warfare

  Make or break: Can the European Patrol Corvette programme save shipbuilding in Europe?

  28th November 2023

  With funding from the European Defence Fund and partner countries, the European Patrol Corvette programme has an opportunity to become the standard bearer for defence procurement and potentially offer a route forward for naval shipbuilding in Europe.

• Naval Warfare

  Dutch navy launches new rMCM vessel

  20th October 2023

  The first new Mine Countermeasures Vessel (MCMV) for the Royal Netherlands Navy was launched in a ceremony at the Kership Joint Venture shipyard in Concarneau on 19 October 2023.

• 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.

• Air Warfare

  Czech Republic commits to F-35 jets despite Saab's 'free' Gripen lease offer

  2nd October 2023

  Despite Saab's attractive Gripen lease extension offer, the decision to buy the F-35 underscores the Czech Republic's commitment to the latest technology and strengthens ties with NATO allies.

• Land Warfare

  Threats and opportunities: NATO demand for game-changing connectivity

  12th September 2023

  On 4 April 2023, Finland joined NATO. What can be learned from the country’s ability to assure resilient tactical communications?

• Training

  DSEI 2023: 4GD to upgrade SimStriker smart target with generative AI and computational vision

  15th September 2023

  Both the SimStriker enhancements involving computer vision and generative AI are currently in development, with some aspects already de-risked.

• Air Warfare

  General Atomics completes test of small UAS aerial recovery system

  10th October 2023

  The aerial recovery system for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems/Air-Launched Effects (SUAS/ALE) works by deploying a towline which connects to SUAS/ALE and retracts to stow the platform in a bay on the recovering platform.

• Naval Warfare

  DSEI 2023: Kongsberg expects launch customer for Vanguard multrole ship imminently

  8th September 2023

  Testing and qualification of the Vanguard multirole ship by designer Kongsberg has been completed and the company expects a launch customer shortly. The vessel is optimised to be a 'mothership' for uncrewed systems.

• Naval Warfare

  Finland ends long wait for construction on the first Pohjanmaa-class corvette

  30th October 2023

  The four Pohjanmaa-class corvettes will be built as part of the Squadron 2020 programme following setbacks that delayed the beginning of construction.

• Naval Warfare

  Turkish Navy to address capability gaps with new OPV launches

  26th September 2023

  Turkey is asserting it naval shipbuilding credentials and place as a major maritime power with the delivery of three ships in one day.

• 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

  Greece kicks off talks to buy Black Hawk helicopters

  11th October 2023

  Greece's request for the Black Hawks is currently in the process of evaluation by the US Defence Cooperation office and the delivery timeline is estimated to be around three years from the finalisation of the contract.

• Training

  International forces collaborate in Exercise Ulchi to enhance Northeast Asia's security

  22nd August 2023

  Exercise Ulchi Freedom Shield 23 underscores international cooperation in strengthening defence capabilities, as US and South Korean military units and several UN Command member states engage in training.

• Air Warfare

  US Army delivers FARA engines to Bell and Sikorsky

  24th October 2023

  In a significant development for the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) programme, the first two T901 flight test engines have been delivered for the Bell 360 Invictus and Sikorsky Raider X Competitive Prototypes.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Submarines: conventional/attack

  Additional Type 212CD (5-6) [Norway]

  Programme Background Requirements As of 2023, the Royal Norwegian Navy operates a fleet of six Ula-class submarines. The submarines are expected to remain in service ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Additional Type 212CD (5-6) [Norway]

  As of 2023, the Royal Norwegian Navy operates a fleet of six Ula-class submarines. The submarines are expected to remain in service until the 2030s, when ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Additional Type 212CD (5-6) [Norway]

  As of 2023, the Royal Norwegian Navy operates a fleet of six Ula-class submarines. The submarines are expected to remain in service until the 2030s, when ...

• Military UAS - HALE

  MQ-4C Triton [NATO]

  Background NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum During the July 2026 NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum in Ankara, Türkiye, NATO announced that Denmark, Finland, Germany and Norway ...

• Military UAS - HALE

  Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) [NATO]

  Background Purchase While NATO doesn’t have its own forces and depends on its allies, the alliance does have some of its own assets and equipment. In ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | MQ-4C Triton [NATO]

  On 7 July 2026, NATO announced that Denmark, Finland, Germany and Norway had acquired up to five Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton HALE UAVs, which will ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | MQ-4C Triton [NATO]

  On 7 July 2026, NATO announced that Denmark, Finland, Germany and Norway had acquired up to five Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton HALE UAVs, which will ...

• Submarines: conventional/attack

  Type 212CD (1-4) [Norway]

  Programme Background Norway selected TKMS as the shipbuilder for its new class of Type 212CD submarines to replace the six Ula-class SSKs currently in service. ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Baltic Joint Naval Procurement [Latvia]

  The Baltic republics of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia plan to continue developing their respective navies, regarding them as important elements in the NATO alliance — ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Baltic Joint Naval Procurement [Latvia]

  The Baltic republics of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia plan to continue developing their respective navies, regarding them as important elements in the NATO alliance — ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Smaller Vessels Procurement [Estonia]

  The Baltic republics of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia plan to continue developing their respective navies. They regard them as important elements in the NATO alliance, ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Smaller Vessels Procurement [Estonia]

  The Baltic republics of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia plan to continue developing their respective navies. They regard them as important elements in the NATO alliance, ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Larger Vessels Procurement [Estonia]

  The Baltic republics of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia plan to continue developing their respective navies. They regard them as important elements in the NATO alliance, ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Larger Vessels Procurement [Estonia]

  The Baltic republics of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia plan to continue developing their respective navies. They regard them as important elements in the NATO alliance, ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Multifunction Modular Ships Procurement [Lithuania]

  The Baltic republics of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia plan to continue developing their respective navies, which are considered to be important elements in the NATO ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Self-propelled rocket launchers

  Flute MLRS

  The Flute Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) is a self-propelled missile system that can be armed with up to eight unguided S-8 rockets (Flute-80) or ...

• Submarines: conventional/attack

  Ula Class

  The Ula-class conventional attack submarines (SSK) was a joint project between Norway and Germany, with some sections made in Norway, but assembled in Germany, equipped ...

• Sea: optronic masts and periscopes

  SERO 14/15

  SERO 14/15 periscopes were developed on behalf of Germany’s Federal Office for Defence Technology and Procurement. Used in Norwegian ULA plus German and Italian Type ...

• Sea: tactical training

  Proteus ASW and Sonar Trainer

  The Proteus ASW and Sonar Trainer expands the Action Speed Tactical Trainer’s sonar capability with new sonar simulations to create a dedicated ASW trainer. Various ...

• Major networking projects

  Missile Defence

  In 2010, NATO rolled out an initial capability to protect alliance forces against missile threats and is now examining options for protecting territory and populations. ...

• Major networking projects

  AGS

  NATO is acquiring an Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) system that will give commanders a picture of the situation on the ground in areas of interest. ...

• Major networking projects

  Ballistic Missile Defence

  In early 2010, NATO acquired the first phase of an initial theatre ballistic missile defence capability to protect alliance forces. 

• OPVs

  Afrika Class (Vard 7 055)

  The Afrika-class (Vard 7 055) is a 53m OPV developed by Vard Marine. Designed to undertake surveillance, patrol and response operations with the EEZ, the ...

• Submarines: conventional/attack

  Type 212CD

  Norway is to get six new Type 212CD ‘common design’ submarines to replace the existing Ula-class SSKs after it selected German shipbuilder ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems ...

• Major networking projects

  Air and Missile Defence

  NATO Air and Missile Defence comprises all measures aimed at monitoring and reacting to potential air threats in NATO airspace, as well as countering hostile ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Granat-1

  The Granat-series UAS by Kalashnikov Concern (Izhmash Unmanned Systems) – the largest Russian manufacturing company that produces a wide range of precision weapons – includes at least ...

• Sea: procedural training, Sea: tactical training

  Submarine Training Systems

  Thales has delivered submarine training systems to nations around the world, including Submarine Control Simulators and Machinery Control Trainers, with example deployments being the UK ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Granat-4 (Rubezh-20)

  The Granat-series UAS by Kalashnikov Concern (Izhmash Unmanned Systems) includes at least six tactical variants: the Granat-1, -2, -3, -4, -5 and -6. A popular ...

• Air: mission management systems

  DSAR

  Data Storage and Retrieval (DSAR) provides the capability for storing, managing and disseminating joint ISR and operational C2 data and information. It can support cross-community ...

• Military UAS - micro

  Argus Elite

  The Argus Elite is a rotary-wing micro UAS manufactured Alliance Solutions Group (ASG). Its EO/IR cameras and hazardous material sensors allow it to capture positional, chemical, ...