• Special Operations

  US Special Operations Command seeks $1.3 billion investment in intelligence

  8th April 2024

  As part of its FY2025 budget proposal, the service requested funds for tactical intelligence collection and analysis solutions and for ISR, processing, exploitation and dissemination programmes.

• Naval Warfare

  Italy’s Fincantieri signs $1.3 billion contract to supply PPAs to Indonesia

  28th March 2024

  The contract will include two PPA units which were originally designed for and ordered by the Italian Navy.

• Land Warfare

  Japan orders three Mission Master UGVs

  8th April 2024

  Part of Rheinmetall's Mission Master family, the Mission Master Silent Partner (SP) is an eight-wheeled UGV designed to fulfil various logistics and battlefield support roles. Since 2017, several countries, including the UK, Netherlands and an undisclosed Middle Eastern country, have made purchases for trials and development purposes.

• Land Warfare

  USMC narrows down field for light loitering munition requirement

  15th April 2024

  The US Marine Corps selected a team of UVision and Mistral to meet a requirement for Organic Precision Fires Mounted (OPF-M) loitering munition in 2021. It has now awarded contracts for the soldier carried light (OPF-L) version after the success of similar systems in Ukraine highlighted the potential for such weapons.

• Land Warfare

  Rheinmetall wins $145 million contract for subsystems to replace howitzers sent to Ukraine

  2nd April 2024

  The Panzerhaubitze 2000 (PzH 2000) was developed in the mid-1980s to meet a German Army requirement to replace its M109 SPHs and 185 were delivered. Export orders from Greece (24), Italy (70, of which 68 were produced locally) and the Netherlands (57) increased production to more than 330 systems.

• Land Warfare

  Greenlight for production of Taiwan’s improved Cloud Leopard

  4th April 2024

  A total of 15 modifications and upgrades will be made to the original Cloud Leopard platform to enhance its combat performance based on feedback from military operators.

• Naval Warfare

  South Korea approves more frigates plus SM-3 missiles

  6th May 2024

  South Korea’s six FFX Batch IV frigates are expected to be delivered by 2032 and will full retirement of remaining Pohang-class corvettes and Ulsan-class frigates, and possibly Gwanggaeto-class destroyers.

• Air Warfare

  Airbus could miss out as India’s air refueller saga drags on

  26th April 2024

  Amid heightened demand for aerial refuelling capabilities in India, Airbus Defence faces a potential setback in securing defence contracts in the country due to escalating costs and concerns over trust.

• Air Warfare

  US hypersonic programmes to receive almost $7 billion in 2025

  2nd April 2024

  The investments in hypersonic capabilities, part of the US$9.8 billion fund the Pentagon requested for long-range fires, will cover several initiatives across all domains.

• Digital Battlespace

  DARPA awards AI contracts

  12th March 2024

  The US has been working to out how to use and defend against AI with DARPA alone outlining in 2008 ‘AI Next’ programme with US$2 billion committed to advance the science of AI.

• Training

  US, Japan, Australia and the Philippines conduct major military exercise in South China Sea

  8th April 2024

  The countries conducted a Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) within the Philippine’s Exclusive Economic Zone on 7 April 2024.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AI and software companies selected for US Army Robotic Combat Vehicle subsystems

  5th April 2024

  The US Army has intentions to develop light, medium and heavy variants of the Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) as part of the branche’s Next Generation Combat Vehicle family.

• Naval Warfare

  US DIA awards $305 million South Korean intelligence contract to HII

  20th March 2024

  US shipbuilder will provide analysis to help US Forces Korea (USFK) to detect threats and better understand enemy capabilities.

• Air Warfare

  Italy buys additional 28 Sidewinder short range air missiles

  21st March 2024

  Italy has requested more Sidewinder Block II+ tactical missiles from the US on top of the approximately 1,000 AIM-9s already delivered.

• Digital Battlespace

  Transforming the battlefield: How DARPA’s manufacturing innovations is fuelling military flexibility

  3rd May 2024

  DARPA has been attempting to revolutionise military logistics with innovative manufacturing programmes like SURGE. Such programmes have been aimed at streamlining the qualification process and enhancing distributed production to ensure quick, adaptable supply of critical military parts using advanced technologies.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• LTVs - 4x4

  MRZR D4 [Belgium]

  Background In September 2025, the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) awarded Polaris a framework agreement to supply vehicles across the alliance. This framework is intended to ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  Strategic Tanker Transport [Canada]

  Background This project will replace the existing fleet capability, including strategic airlift, air-to-air refuelling, Aeromedical Evacuations and Strategic Government of Canada transport. The Strategic Tanker ...

• Loitering munitions

  Drone Dominance Program (DDP): Gauntlet 2 [US]

  Background Overview As noted by the Department of War (DOW), the Drone Dominance Program (DDP) is an iterative $1 billion plan to purchase small, lethal drones ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | P-1 EW [Japan]

  Japan is advancing its electronic warfare (EW) capabilities through the development of an EW version of the domestically produced Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraft. The ...

• Data links

  Data links | P-1 EW [Japan]

  Japan is advancing its electronic warfare (EW) capabilities through the development of an EW version of the domestically produced Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraft. The ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | P-1 EW [Japan]

  Japan is advancing its electronic warfare (EW) capabilities through the development of an EW version of the domestically produced Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraft. The ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | P-1 EW [Japan]

  Japan is advancing its electronic warfare (EW) capabilities through the development of an EW version of the domestically produced Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraft. The ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-1Z [Romania]

  The Romanian MoD has a long-standing requirement for new rotary platforms, including troop transport, supply and attack configurations. According to the the Military Strategy document, ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-64E APACHE [USA]

  Programme Background According to the FY2021 Defense Budget, the US Army procured 81 new-build AH-64E Apaches.The FY2021 Army budget shows 61 prior-year new-build AH-64Es and ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Infantry Squad Vehicle (Heavy) [USA]

  Background The US Army has been operating the ISV since 2019. It currently serves alongside the JLTV and HMMWV in the Army's Mobile Brigade Combat ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | IF-X/KF-X procurement [Indonesia]

  Indonesian Air Force is planning to procure around 48 fighter jets under the joint KF-X/IF-X programme (see separate entries for Indonesian and South Korean development ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | IF-X/KF-X procurement [Indonesia]

  Indonesian Air Force is planning to procure around 48 fighter jets under the joint KF-X/IF-X programme (see separate entries for Indonesian and South Korean development ...

• Data links

  Data links | IF-X/KF-X procurement [Indonesia]

  Indonesian Air Force is planning to procure around 48 fighter jets under the joint KF-X/IF-X programme (see separate entries for Indonesian and South Korean development ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | IF-X/KF-X procurement [Indonesia]

  Indonesian Air Force is planning to procure around 48 fighter jets under the joint KF-X/IF-X programme (see separate entries for Indonesian and South Korean development ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | IF-X/KF-X procurement [Indonesia]

  Indonesian Air Force is planning to procure around 48 fighter jets under the joint KF-X/IF-X programme (see separate entries for Indonesian and South Korean development ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Trailers

  Tactical Trailer

  Polaris Defense developed the single-axle Tactical Trailer, able to carry a 450kg cargo, for use with its family of MRZR all-terrain vehicles. 

• LTVs - 4x4

  DAGOR/DAGOR A1

  In October 2014 at the AUSA Annual event, Polaris Defense unveiled its 4x4 Deployable Advanced Ground Off-Road (DAGOR) vehicle as its submission for the US ...

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

  Airborne Launching and Attack System (AirLAS)

  The Airborne Launching and Attack System (AirLAS) is a system that pairs Diehl Defence's IRIS-T air-to-air missile with a reusable carrier UAV developed by POLARIS. The companies ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  MRZR D4

  Unveiled at the Special Operations Forces Industry Conference in May 2016, the MRZR D4 is a high-performance, turbo-charged diesel variant of the MRZR 4 off-road ...

• Sea: procedural training

  Polaris Desktop Bridge Trainer

  Described as a cost-effective alternative for training multiple students, the Polaris Desktop Bridge Trainer incorporates many of the features of the full navy bridge trainer, ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  MRZR 4

  The MRZR 4 is derived from the Polaris RZR commercial 4x4 all-terrain vehicle with modifications to make it suitable for military use.  Over 1,500 MRZR ...

• Sea: procedural training

  Polaris Navy Bridge Trainer

  The Polaris Navy Bridge Trainer simulates the bridge of a specific class of naval vessel, or as a generic bridge suitable for training personnel from ...

• Sea: tactical training

  Proteus Surface Warship CTT

  In addition to the generic Proteus Action Speed Tactical Trainer (ASTT), Kongsberg can also provide Command Team Trainers (CTT) tailored to the specific needs of ...

• Land: battle management systems

  FAAD/C-RAM C2

  The Forward Area Air Defense (FAAD) Command and Control (C2) system was developed by Northrop Grumman to provide command and control (C2) for the US Army ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  MRZR D2

  Originally introduced in 2013, the MRZR family of vehicles is in service with the US and several other militaries across the world.  On 20 February ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  MRZR Alpha

  The MRZR Alpha is an improved variant of the Polaris MRZR series developed to meet a US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) requirement for a follow-on Light Tactical ...

• Individual assault/anti-tank weapons

  Fletcher

  Arnold Defense, which has produced more than 1.1 million 2.75in/70mm rocket launchers for airborne applications since 1961, unveiled the Fletcher 2.75in/70mm Weapon System at the September ...

• Medium UGVs

  MRZR X

  Team Polaris unveiled the unmanned MRZR X multi-mode, connected vehicle for the first time at the AUVSI trade show in 2018. The MRZR X has been ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Sportsman MV850

  The Sportsman MV850 is derived from the Polaris Sportsman commercial 4x4 all-terrain vehicle and has been modified for military use. The MV850 seats one with ...

• Sea: weapon training

  Proteus Naval Weapon Trainer

  Kongsberg has developed a crew-served and remotely operated simulation architecture that provides man-in-the-loop training for close-in weapon systems. The trainer is already in service as ...