• Defence Helicopter

  Insight: ITEP thaw heats US Army engines

  4th June 2019

  Complications and delays to the US Army’s Improved Turbine Engine Programme (ITEP) are over for the time being; rare relief for a service that was, …

• Defence Helicopter

  Sikorsky to offer CH-53K to Germany

  30th May 2019

  Sikorsky will offer its CH-53K King Stallion for Germany’s heavy lift helicopter requirement, the company announced on 27 May. The official request for proposals for …

• Defence Helicopter

  Paris Air Show: Collins tool up for open architecture effort

  10th June 2019

  Collins Aerospace is developing software-based toolkits that allow third party applications to be rapidly integrated into open architecture environments, Shephard has learnt. The toolkits are capable …

• Defence Helicopter

  France brings launch of HIL programme forward

  29th May 2019

  The French Ministry of the Armed Forces has elected to bring the launch of the French armed forces’ Joint Light Helicopter (HIL) programme forward to …

• Naval Warfare

  Fincantieri launches Italian Navy LHD

  3rd June 2019

  Fincantieri has launched the Italian Navy’s newest Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD), Trieste, at its shipyard in Castellammare di Stabia, the company announced on 25 May.The …

• Defence Notes

  New Zealand Defence Force gets major budget boost

  5th June 2019

  The New Zealand government revealed its budget for the 2019-20 fiscal year on 30 May with a large chunk of additional funds being allocated to …

• Military Logistics

  USNS Fall River arrives in Thailand

  22nd May 2019

  US Navy expeditionary fast transport ship, USNS Fall River, has arrived in Sattahip, Thailand, for the final mission stop of Pacific Partnership 2019, the US …

• Land Warfare

  UAE requests Javelin guided missiles

  28th May 2019

  The US State Department has made a determination approving a potential foreign military sale of Javelin guided missiles to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the …

• Digital Battlespace

  Future of contested battlespace points to directional communications

  10th June 2019

  The future of battlespace communications, particularly in the air domain, is seeing a trend towards direct platform-to-platform transmission as the capabilities of near-peer and peer …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  GA-ASI integrates L3 Wescam’s MX-20 onto multiple platforms

  31st May 2019

  L3 Wescam and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems are integrating Wescam’s MX-20 electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) imaging system into the SkyGuardian RPAS, as well as the …

• Defence Notes

  Shangri-La Dialogue: Vagueness from US disappoints many

  1st June 2019

  The highlight of any Shangri-La Dialogue is Sino-US rivalry. However, China is probably rubbing its hands in glee after 1.5 days of the dialogue have …

• Land Warfare

  Summer award date for US hypersonics launcher contract

  6th June 2019

  A contract will be awarded ‘later this summer’ for a transporter erect launcher (TEL) from which the US Army will conduct its first ever erect …

• Military Logistics

  US Marine Corps seeks integrated helmet designs

  6th June 2019

  The US Marine Corps (USMC) has initiated market research directed toward the procurement of a prototype and potential follow-on production contracts for a new Integrated …

• Defence Helicopter

  Optionally piloted Black Hawk begins flight tests

  7th June 2019

  Sikorsky has begun flight testing a UH-60 Black Hawk equipped with a new retrofit kit designed to turn the helicopter into an optionally piloted vehicle …

• Defence Notes

  Raytheon and United Technologies announce merger

  10th June 2019

  Raytheon and United Technologies announced on 9 June that they will merge, creating a behemoth American aeronautics and defence company.  The new company, Raytheon Technologies …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fardier SOV

  Programme Background The French Army's airborne units previously operated 280 Lohr FL500 Fardier utility vehicles to carry heavy equipment. Those vehicles increased the tactical mobility ...

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

  French Operational Pocket Drone / DrOP (France)

  Programme Background French UAV Procurment / DrOP Under its 2019-2025 Military Programming Law (LPM), France aims to introduce 1,200 new UAVs into service with the ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  VBMR Griffon [France]

  Programme Background Development of the Griffon commenced in 2014 when the consortium of Arquus, Nexter and Thales was awarded a development contract to design the ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Land Mobility Programme (Light Protected Mobility) [UK]

  This programme briefly introduces the wider Land Mobility Programme and then focuses on the Light Protected Mobility (LPM) programme. Information on the LMV and MPM can ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A400M-France

  Airbus formally delivered the first production A400M to the French Air Force in August 2013. The French Air Force took delivery of its 15th A400M ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Navio Polivalente Logistico (NAVPOL) (Portugal)

  Programme Background Requirements The NAVPOL is expected to feature a flexible and modular LPD design capable of amphibious operations and HADR tasks. Timeline The plans for ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Land Mobility Programme [UK - Medium Protected Mobility]

  This programme briefly introduces the wider Land Mobility Programme and then focuses on the Medium Protected Mobility (MPM) programme. Information on the LMV and MPM can ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  H-145M-Luxembourg

  With a MTOW of 3.7t, the H145M can be used for a wide range of tasks, including troop and passenger transport, surveillance, air rescue, reconnaissance ...

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

  Corps of Engineers UAS [Ireland]

  Programme Background EU Competition Notice On 13 August 2024, a competition notice appeared on the EU tendering website stating that the Irish Defence Force invited ...

• EBRC Jaguar [France]

  Programme Background Requirement Initially, the French government required 248 Jaguars. However, this requirement quickly rose to 300 platforms, 50% of which are set to be ...

• OPVs

  Patrouilleurs Hauturiers OPVS (former Patrouilleurs Océanique) [France]

  Programme Background Requirements The programme aims to procure new OPVs that will replace the D'Estienne d'Orves-class and the Flamant-class vessels. The OPVs are intended to be armed ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Portugal VTLB

  Programme Background The Portuguese Army planned to allocate funds for the procurement of 167 VTLBs during the Military Programming Law running from 2015 until 2026. ...

• Minehunters

  Mine Warfare Vessels [France]

  Programme Background Requirements France’s Mine Warfare Vessels programme is aimed at replacing the ageing Eridan-class minehunters. The programme will follow the Future Naval Mine Action System ...

• OPVs

  Next Generation OPVs (NGOPVs) Procurement [India]

  Programme Background Timeline On 20 December 2023, the Indian Ministry of Defence signed a contract with Mazagon Dockyard Shipbuilders (MDL) to construct six Next Generation Offshore ...

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

  V-Bat 128 [Canada]

  Programme Background Requirement Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) was seeking a platform for the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) that would significantly expand its surveillance range ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military UGVs

  Centurio

  At Eurosatory 2024, KNDS unveiled the Centurio family of 4x4 UGVs. Based on the Phobos UGV by SOGECLAIR, Centurio has been developed in the 2024-30 ...

• Land: handheld NV devices

  O-NYX

  The Thales O-NYX is a Ultra-Compact Night Vision Goggle used by the French armed forces. They have an enlarged field of vision to 51° compared ...

• Sniper rifles

  Model 95

  The Model 95 is a bolt-action 50cal sniper rifle in a bullpup configuration, which entered production in 1995. Its buttplate, magazine well and trigger housing ...

• Land: range systems and targets

  Urban Ranges

  Cubic Range Design Solutions has provided facilities around the world for military and law enforcement training in urban terrain. It uses its previous experience, as ...

• Air-to-surface missiles

  Storm Shadow/SCALP EG

  The Storm Shadow is an air-launched cruise missile developed by France, Italy and the UK. It is known as the Storm Shadow in the UK ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  SandCat

  The 4x4 SandCat family of vehicles was designed by Israeli armour specialist Plasan Sasa in 2005 for a range of military, special operations, homeland security, ...

• Pistols

  P30

  The P30 is available in 9x19mm and .40 S&W; calibres with six variants of each. The grip of the P30 has exchangeable backstrap and grip ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  EK 001 Blue Whale

  The EK 001 Blue Whale is a large, rotary-wing UAV capable of carrying a payload of 23kg. It is in the early stages of development. ...

• Suppressors

  FA556-212

  The Fast Attach 5.56mm (FA556)-212 sound suppressor is designed for use on the AR-15, C8 SFW, HK416, M4, M16 and SA-80. Firearms with 266.7mm barrels ...

• Pistols

  Jericho Steel

  Designed for military and law enforcement users, the Jericho pistol in steel frame configuration is available in 9x19mm and .45 ACP calibres and in standard ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  IA-12A Stark

  The IA-12A Stark is a small, rotary-wing UAV that features a dual propulsion system, swappable payload bay, retractable landing gear, single operator control, ground mission planning, ...

• Pistols

  P Series

  The S120 pistol series has been used globally in law enforcement and military organisations, with the weapons initially designed as tactical and task force pistols ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Tiger LPV

  The MDT Armor 4x4 Tiger Light Protected Vehicle (LPV) is designed to meet the requirements of military and law enforcement customers for a survivable, light ...

• Pistols

  Jericho Polymer

  Jericho pistols have been used for over three decades by military and police units, including law-enforcement entities in Israel and around the world. Designed for ...

• Sniper rifles

  ALIAS CS5

  The ALIAS Concealable Subsonic/Supersonic Suppressed Sniper System (CS5) is designed for concealment in urban settings. With the buttstock and suppressor detached, the CS5 is 597mm ...