• Naval Warfare

  Timelines and details emerge on European Patrol Corvette programme

  22nd October 2020

  Aiming to improving naval commonality across Europe’s surface platforms, the fledgling European Patrol Corvette (EPC) concept has embraced modularity in the hope that the continent’s naval powers buy into its design philosophy and, more importantly, the programme itself.

• Military Logistics

  Luxembourg becomes seventh A400M operator

  8th October 2020

  The Luxembourg Army Air Force has received its Airbus A400M military transport aircraft, manufacturer Airbus Defence and Space announced on 7 October. The aircraft was …

• Digital Battlespace

  Slovakia evaluates 3D radar bids

  6th October 2020

  The Slovak MoD and a team of technical experts began on 5 October to evaluate government-to-government offers for the supply of 3D air defence radars. …

• Naval Warfare

  FDI programme completion date stays fixed at 2030 despite pandemic

  19th October 2020

  The French Navy envisages the FDI class as a means of helping it to reach its target of 15 frigates by 2030; the timeline remains steady despite COVID-19 and any delays will be made up ahead of completion.

• Air Warfare

  Safran extends Ardiden 3TP team

  5th October 2020

  Spanish company joins Franco-German team to develop Ardiden 3TP turboprop engine

• Defence Helicopter

  Tiger on its last legs in Aussie attack helicopter bout

  8th October 2020

  Despite the best efforts of Airbus, will the Australian Army achieve its long-standing ambition to acquire US-made attack helicopters?

• Defence Notes

  Proxy power play continues in Nagorno-Karabakh

  9th October 2020

  Ethnic-religious nationalism is not the only factor behind hostilities between Azerbaijan and Armenia, with Russia and Turkey lurking in the wings

• Naval Warfare

  Western Europe pins hopes on technology to tackle next-gen MCM challenges

  13th October 2020

  With hundreds of thousands of legacy mines languishing in various states of wear in Europe’s seas and waterways, it is little wonder that the topic of mine countermeasure (MCM) operations remains at the forefront of naval considerations for the region’s navies.

• Land Warfare

  France orders more Griffons and Jaguars

  23rd September 2020

  French defence procurement agency DGA has ordered more than 300 additional vehicles in the second production phase of the Scorpion modernisation and digitalisation programme. The order …

• Naval Warfare

  OCEA launches research vessel for Nigeria

  28th September 2020

  A new vessel for the Nigerian Navy was launched on 24 September at the OCEA shipyard in Les Sables d'Olonne, France. The hydrographic research vessel …

• Training

  NATO uses exercise to develop TTPs

  8th October 2020

  Multinational virtual networked exercises are not new — but the recently concluded Spartan Warrior 20-9 was unique for its focus on NATO assets

• Naval Warfare

  Regeneration of UK carrier capability promises payoff for US support

  2nd October 2020

  As HMS Queen Elizabeth embarks USMC F-35Bs, what kind of benefits will such a capability bring to the US?

• Air Warfare

  Déjà vu reigns in Croatia

  21st September 2020

  The Croatian government is to choose between four offers in its latest attempt to run a government-to-government tender for 12 fighter aircraft. Offers came from …

• Air Warfare

  General Atomics to work on French Reapers

  14th September 2020

  General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has been awarded a maximum $27.8 million FMS contract from the US Air Force Life Cycle Management Center. The deal covers …

• Land Warfare

  Tatra set to commence Titus tests

  2nd October 2020

  Czech company Tatra Defence Vehicle has received the first prototype Titus troop carrier for blast and explosion tests; ultimately the Army of the Czech Republic will operate 62 vehicles in three variants.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

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

  Bayraktar TB2 [Mali]

  Programme Background Six Drones On 22 December 2022, Joseph Dempsey, a research associate at IISS, tweeted photographs showing a Baytraktar TB2 adorned with the Malian ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  VBMR-L Serval [Luxembourg]

  Programme Background Luxembourg currently operates a small military of just over 1,000 personnel. Despite its small size, Luxembourg has contributed troops to both NATO and EU ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  EBRC Jaguar [Luxembourg]

  Programme Background Luxembourg currently operates a small military of just over 1,000 personnel. Despite its small size, Luxembourg has contributed troops to both NATO and EU ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  VBMR Griffon [Luxembourg]

  Programme Background Luxembourg currently operates a small military of just over 1,000 personnel. Despite its small size, Luxembourg has contributed troops to both NATO and EU ...

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

  Akinci [Mali]

  Background Presentation In December 2024, Akinci drones were presented to the Malian Armed Forces by transitional President General Assimi Goita during a ceremony in Bamako, confirming ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Mi-171Sh

  While the Burkinabe Armed Forces declined to discuss the deal when contacted by Shephard, a Burkinabe military source did acknowledge that the aircraft were being ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Surplus Maxxpro [Bangladesh - Batch 1]

  Programme Background The Bangladesh Army requires MRAPs to provide protected mobility to its troops deployed on UN peacekeeping missions in Mali and the Central African ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Surplus Maxxpro [Bangladesh - Batch 2]

  Programme Background The Bangladesh Army requires MRAPs to provide protected mobility to its troops deployed on UN peacekeeping missions in Mali and the Central African ...

• 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 ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  UN Peacekeeping Vehicles [Bangladesh]

  Programme Background The Bangladesh Army requires 4x4 armoured vehicles to provide protected mobility to its troops deployed on UN peacekeeping missions in Mali and the ...

• Medium UGVs

  THeMIS [Netherlands and Estonia]

  Programme Background The Estonian Armed Forces had already been operating the THeMIS UGV in Mali for a year at the time the programme was announced ...

• Medium UGVs

  THeMIS [Sweden]

  Programme Background Many countries have been acquiring small numbers of Milrem's THeMIS UGV since its success in the hands of Estonian Forces in Mali. The ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  VBCI Replacement [France]

  Programme Background The VBCI is currently France's primary IFV. As an 8x8 wheel vehicle, it fits within a French force structure that favours agile, manoeuvrable ...

• 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 ...

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

  MQ-9 Reaper [France]

  Programme Background 2013 (Block 1) The then-French Defence Minister, Kean-Yves Le Drian, confirmed on 31 May 2013 that France had ordered its first two MQ-9 platforms. The ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: mission management systems

  FINDSAT - BFT System

  Using geo-satellite positioning, Nexter’s BFT system (FINDSAT) is capable of identifying and locating friendly personnel who are not equipped with networked information or radio systems. ...

• Medium UGVs

  THeMIS

  Milrem's Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System (THeMIS) is a modular, hybrid UGV.  The vehicle's modular design and open architecture allow it to be reconfigured to ...

• Land: indirect fire location radar

  GA10

  The Ground Alerter 10 (GA10), developed by Thales, is a portable Counter-Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar (C-RAM) early warning system. It provides 360° azimuth coverage with ...

• Air-to-surface missiles

  HOT 3

  Designed to destroy reactive armour, the HOT (Haut subsonique Optiquement Téléguidé Tiré d'un Tube, or High Subsonic, Optical, Remote-Guided, Tube-Launched) family has demonstrated its multipurpose capability. Tens ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Mi-8/Mi-17

  The Mil Mi-8 (NATO reporting name Hip) is a twin-engine, multirole, medium helicopter developed from 1960 to meet Soviet military requirements. More than 18,000 examples of the ...

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

  Heron Mk 1

  The Heron, now called the Heron Mk I, is a MALE UAS manufactured by Isreal Aerospace Industries' (IAI) Malat Division. Designed for various missions, including ISTAR and artillery fire ...

• Light UGVs

  Probot

  The 4x4 Professional Robot (Probot) is suitable for various applications, both indoor and outdoor, and is designed to carry a payload of up to 700kg. ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  AS532

  The AS532 is a development of the SA 330 Puma, with a long fuselage and marketed for tactical transport and logistical support missions. It has ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  TopOwl

  The TopOwl binocular helmet-mounted sight and display has been chosen by 16 countries for their army, navy and/or air force attack and transport helicopters. It ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Puma M36 Mk 5

  OTT developed the Puma M36 Mk 5 to meet the needs of African customers for a lower-cost vehicle that offers a greater payload than its ...

• Land: air defence radar

  Protivnik-GE

  The Protivnik-GE is a mobile 3D surveillance radar distributed by Russian supplier Rosoboronexport and is currently used by the Russian Armed Forces and the Egyptian ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  SPREOS

  Bird Aerosystems’ SPREO is a Directional Infrared Countermeasure (DIRCM) designed to protect rotary and fixed-wing aircraft against incoming infrared (IR) guided surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles. ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  VBCI

  Nexter developed the VBCI to meet a French Army requirement for an infantry fighting vehicle to replace the tracked AMX-10P. The 8x8 design was specified ...

• Frigates

  La Fayette/Kang Ding Class

  The La Fayette-class frigates have a stealthy design and are in service with France and Taiwan, with some variance between the ships on length and ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Storm

  The Storm is a light APC based on the Toyota Land Cruiser 79 commercial SUV developed by Qatari armoured vehicle manufacturer Stark Motors.  The Storm ...