• Defence Notes

  Indo Defence 2016: Limitations remain despite spend increase

  24th October 2016

  The Indonesian government aims to allocate at least 1% of GDP to defence in the next few years, although it remains to be seen whether …

• Land Warfare

  Wanted Down Under: local businesses for Land 400

  24th October 2016

  The Australian Department of Defence announced an opportunity roadmap for local companies to work on the Land 400 Phase 2 Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle (CRV) programme …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  New comms payload for Wasp aerostat

  21st October 2016

  Drone Aviation will integrate a new communications sensor into the US Department of Defense’s (DoD’s) Wasp aerostats under a contract announced on 19 October. The …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  US CBP flight software includes ATLC

  21st October 2016

  The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has integrated General Atomics Aeronautical Systems’ (GA-ASI’s) Automatic Take-off and Landing Capability (ATLC) system …

• Land Warfare

  US Army reveals JLTV designators

  20th October 2016

  The US Army has provided official numeric designators for the vehicle variants of the new Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV). The JLTV programme has been developed …

• Digital Battlespace

  Roke, DSTL working on AI for maritime systems

  20th October 2016

  Roke Manor Research is set to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) software into a maritime combat system demonstrator sponsored by the UK’s Defence Science and Technology …

• Defence Notes

  Analysis: Mexican defence industry

  20th October 2016

  Mexico has been developing and producing its own weapon systems since the early 20th century and went through phases of building its own aircraft, armoured …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  China explores military UGV designs

  20th October 2016

  A special UGV trial, named Conquer Obstacle 2016, was recently held in China, the PLA Daily has publicised.  The aim of the unmanned ground system challenge was to …

• Land Warfare

  Jumping in the Leopard pool

  20th October 2016

  The Netherlands signed an agreement with Germany on 13 October to combine some of their Leopard 2 main battle tank forces. It will also transfer …

• Defence Helicopter

  Nuri cockpit upgrade gets green light

  19th October 2016

  The upgrade of Sikorsky S-61A-4 Nuri helicopters of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) took a major step forward, as revealed in a Heli-One press …

• Military Logistics

  US combat tourniquet gets update

  18th October 2016

  An updated version of the Combat Application Tourniquet (CAT) has been introduced as ‘Generation 7’, the US Army announced on 12 October. Soldiers carry CAT …

• Defence Helicopter

  Upgraded Mi-28N starts first flight trials

  18th October 2016

  A prototype of a modernised Mi-28 combat helicopter has begun flight testing at the Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, Russian Helicopters announced on 13 October. The …

• Land Warfare

  Indian Army buys more MPVs

  17th October 2016

  An order for 250 additional Mine-Protected Vehicles (MPV) for the Indian Army was lodged with the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) in late September.  With first …

• Defence Helicopter

  Indian deal done for Ka-226T

  16th October 2016

  India’s and Russia’s heads of state signed a much awaited contract for the production of 200 Kamov Ka-226T helicopters at the BRICS summit in Goa …

• Naval Warfare

  Euronaval 2016: Norway to push for coast guard vessels

  15th October 2016

  The Norwegian government this week followed up from June’s long term defence plan with a 2017-budget that involves an increase in the funding level for …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Medium UGVs

  Mission Master (RPV Sprial 3) [UK]

  Background First announced in April 2017 and referred to in early MOD documents as the ‘last mile resupply’ initiative, the British Army is reportedly evaluating ...

• Military UAS - micro

  First Person View (FPV) Drones [UK]

  Background Parliament Questions On 20 May 2025, Ben Obese-Jecty, Conservative MP for Huntingdon, asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many FPV drones had been procured ...

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Magni-X (UK)

  Programme Background On 12 January 2022, Elbit Systems UK announced it had been awarded a contract from the UK MoD's Defence Equipment & Support's Future Capability ...

• Military UAS - small

  Bug Nano UAS (UK)

  Programme Background The British Army previously took delivery of 160 first-generation Black Hornet PD-100 nano UAS in 2013 to support operations in Afghanistan. After these ...

• Medium UGVs

  Mission Master (RPV Sprial 2) [UK]

  Background First announced in April 2017 and referred to in early MOD documents as the ‘last mile resupply’ initiative, the British Army is reportedly evaluating ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Boxer (MIV) [UK]

  Background History The UK MoD announced in March 2018 that it would re-join the Boxer programme and pursue a sole-source acquisition of the 8x8 vehicle. ...

• Military UAS - small

  Black Hornet 3 PRS (UK)

  Programme Background The British Army operated approximately 160 first-generation Black Hornet PD-100 nano UAS between 2013 and 2017, when the decision was made to retire ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  HMT Extenda [UK]

  Background Programme requirements The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) stated in a Contract Notice that it required at least 240 new HMT platforms to mitigate ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6, LTVs - 4x4

  Supacat HMT 400 & 600 [UK]

  Background Programme requirements The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) stated in a Contract Notice that it had a requirement for at least 70 new HMT platforms with ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) Project [UK]

  Programme Background Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) Project The British Army launched the RAS project to provide the "direction required to exploit emerging technologies to ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Ajax [UK]

  Background Under its $4.3 billion production contract, GDUK will provide 589 Ajax to the British Army. These will be delivered in six different variants: 245 ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Multi-Role Vehicle (Protected) (MRV-P) Package 1 (UK)

  Programme Background Requirement The MRV-P programme was intended to procure replacements for a diverse fleet of 4x4 and 6x6 vehicles purchased during the wars in Iraq ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Recce Strike Vehicle 4x4 [UK]

  Background Under Project Niala, the British Army has sought a new recce strike vehicle to augment the operations of 11th Brigade. This sits outside of ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6, LTVs - 4x4

  Supacat HMT 400 [UK]

  Background Programme requirements The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) stated in a Contract Notice that it required at least 240 new HMT platforms to mitigate a shortfall ...

• 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 HPM can ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  British Army Apache Training Facilities

  Aviation Training International (ATIL) – a Leonardo Helicopters/Boeing joint venture formed in 1998 - was selected to provide the attack helicopter training service to the ...

• Main battle tanks

  Challenger 1

  420 Challenger 1 MBTs were delivered to the British Army between 1983 and 1990. Developed from the Shir 2 MBT originally designed for Iran, the ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  HIDAS

  Leonardo’s Helicopter Integrated Defensive Aids System (HIDAS) combines laser, missile and Radar Warning Receivers, and a Chaff and Flare Dispensing System (CFDS). The system is ...

• Unguided Artillery Ammunition

  L52 Smoke

  The L52 Smoke is a 105mm smoke artillery round manufactured by BAE Systems.  The British Army uses it in its L118 Light Guns.

• Unguided Artillery Ammunition

  L21 High Explosive (HE)

  The L21 High Explosive (HE) is a 155mm artillery shell manufactured by BAE Systems. The British Army uses the L21 with its Archer artillery systems.

• Towed guns

  105mm Light Gun

  The 105mm Light Gun was designed and manufactured by Royal Ordnance Nottingham (now BAE Systems), with the first guns introduced to the British Army in ...

• Main battle tanks

  Challenger 2

  The 120mm-armed Challenger 2 MBT was introduced into British Army service in 1994 as a replacement for the Challenger 1, which was successfully employed in ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  FV432 Mk 3 Bulldog

  The FV432 Mk 3 Bulldog is an upgraded version of the long-serving FV432 family of tracked vehicles, of which approximately 3,000 were delivered to the British ...

• Unguided Artillery Ammunition

  L17 Inert

  The L17 Inert is a 155mm training artillery round manufactured by BAE Systems.  It is in service with the British Army, where its Archer artillery systems use ...

• Armoured engineer vehicles

  Buffalo MPCV

  The Buffalo Mine-Protected Clearance Vehicle (MPCV) is in service with the armed forces of Canada, France, Italy, Pakistan, the UK and the US and has ...

• Subsystems: software

  Exonaut Software Suite

  Since 2000, 4C has been developing the Exonaut software suite. The products within the Exonaut suite can either be used standalone or as part of ...

• Self-propelled guns

  AS90

  The AS90 155mm/39cal tracked SPH was designed and built by Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering (acquired by BAE Systems in 1999) to meet the requirements of ...

• Land: tactical engagement simulators

  Instrumented Ground Combat Training Systems

  Cubic supplies combat training systems for CTCs, homestations and forward-deployed environments. The systems are designed to support missions including force-on-force, urban operations, joint, combined arms ...

• Main battle tanks

  Olifant

  The Olifant (Elephant) is a South African variant of the British Centurion MBT. Development of the Centurion began in 1943. It was introduced into service ...

• Armoured engineer vehicles

  Trojan

  In 2001, Vickers Defence Systems (now part of BAE Systems) received a £250 million ($300 million) UK MoD contract to build 66 Engineer Tank Systems ...