• Defence Notes

  Golden Dome for America hits one-year mark but key questions remain on its progress

  26th February 2026

  Integration issues, bureaucracy and undefined policies and authorities could hamper the full implementation of the “shield” to defend the US territory against aerial threats.

• Land Warfare

  DSEI 2025: OpenWorks launches new system for on-the-move targeting

  10th September 2025

  Vision Pace uses OpenWorks’ artificial intelligence (AI) classifiers and trackers to detect, track and identify multiple targets in land and naval applications for air defence.

• Naval Warfare

  DSEI 2025: Skana’s new autonomous maritime platforms signal company’s shift towards scalable assets

  3rd September 2025

  The Israeli defence technology company has taken the wraps off two autonomous vessels ahead of DSEI as it sets its sights on scalability and cost reduction.

• Naval Warfare

  UK Royal Navy explores modular counter-drone capabilities for future hybrid fleet

  10th March 2026

  The UK MoD is scoping out systems to counter the growing threat of uncrewed aerial systems, with a focus on low-cost modularity and speed to field.

• Defence Notes

  Singapore’s DSTA seeks wider partnerships to advance robotics and AI capabilities

  19th September 2025

  The technology organisation is expecting a significant rise in the number of staff working across robotics and digital solutions as it becomes more of a focal point.

• Land Warfare

  CAVS rides a wave and prepares for surge requirements as orders roll in

  2nd February 2026

  The Common Armoured Vehicle System is continuing to rack up orders as the British Army looks likely to become an operator of the vehicle, while Italy and Ireland are also contenders.

• Defence Notes

  How might European countries look to tackle drone incursions?

  24th December 2025

  Disruption of infrastructure in Europe, whether by cyberattack, physical damage to pipelines or uncrewed aerial vehicles flying over major airports, as has happened more recently, is on the rise. What is the most effective way of countering the aerial aspect of this not-so-open warfare?

• Air Warfare

  November drone digest: GA-ASI eyes Middle East for Gambit, Edge Group unveils new UAVs

  1st December 2025

  In November 2025, GA-ASI unveiled a new Gambit variant, the Gambit 6, and appears to be pitching the aircraft series to various customers in the Middle East, which is a fast-emerging CCA market. The Dubai Airshow also saw the unveiling of various Emirati aircraft from Edge Group.

• Air Warfare

  AUSA 2025: AeroVironment showcases new variant of Switchblade loitering munition family

  15th October 2025

  The new Switchblade 400 was on display alongside new variants of existing drones: the Switchblade 600 Block 2 and Switchblade 300 Block 20.

• Naval Warfare

  Royal New Zealand Navy outlines modernisation goals

  2nd September 2025

  The Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) has a crunch time coming up as it looks to refresh its fleet before 2040, and prepares to begin operating Sikorsky MH-60R helicopters, although it is at the back of a long ordering queue. A key part of any solution is looking at what neighbouring Australia is buying.

• Air Warfare

  New Zealand to procure MH-60R and A321XLR aircraft as plan to “rebuild” the NZDF begins

  21st August 2025

  The MH-60R Seahawk and A321XLR aircraft are the first procurement announcements designed to help delivery of a more combat capable and interoperable fleet to the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF), as outlined in the New Zealand government’s April Defence Capability Plan.

• Land Warfare

  Will we see a rise in MBT alternatives in future armoured warfare?

  25th November 2025

  In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of militaries procuring alternative vehicles to the traditional tank. The spread of these vehicles appears to be driven by the ever-increasing cost of MBTs and the changing nature of the modern battlefield.

• Air Warfare

  F-35 buy decisions rear their head after US tariffs increase

  11th August 2025

  Following Spain’s decision not to procure F-35 aircraft in favour of Eurofighter and FCAS 6th-gen, Switzerland and Canada continue to weigh up their investment in Lockheed Martin’s F-35 aircraft.

• Defence Notes

  Rheinmetall sales up by almost a quarter on wave of German spending

  8th August 2025

  Germany’s Rheinmetall released its 1H 2025 results on 7 August, continuing the strong growth of recent years. A particular highlight of the result’s presentation was the Skyranger air defence system for which the company is predicting sales of about US$8.2 billion from the German Government before the end of the year.

• Air Warfare

  Singapore investigates rotary-wing crewed-uncrewed teaming

  25th July 2025

  Initial exploration of helicopter crewed-uncrewed teaming capabilities will commence in late-2025 and could potentially help shape future programmes involving launched effects.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military helicopters - maritime

  MH-60R Seahawk (Saudi Arabia)

  The sale is aimed at improving Saudi Arabia’s capability to meet current and future threats from enemy weapon systems, provide the capability to identify, engage ...

• Military UAS - mini

  LARUS [Germany]

  Background LARUS LARUS is a German reconnaissance UAS programme. The $30.9 million contract, associated with the programme, was awarded by the Bundeswehr through the NATO ...

• Corvettes

  Tuo Chiang Class (Batch I) [Taiwan]

  Programme Background Requirements The multi-purpose corvette Tuo Chiang-class is made up of an initially smaller corvette and the first-in-class ROCN Tuo Chiang (not included in this programme value), followed by ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Pegasus SIGINT Aircraft (Follow-On) [Germany]

  In 2021, Germany awarded a contract to Hensoldt for the Kalaetron integrated SIGINT system to be installed on three Bombardier Global 6000 aircraft, forming the Persistent ...

• Data links

  Data links | Pegasus SIGINT Aircraft (Follow-On) [Germany]

  In 2021, Germany awarded a contract to Hensoldt for the Kalaetron integrated SIGINT system to be installed on three Bombardier Global 6000 aircraft, forming the Persistent ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Pegasus SIGINT Aircraft (Follow-On) [Germany]

  In 2021, Germany awarded a contract to Hensoldt for the Kalaetron integrated SIGINT system to be installed on three Bombardier Global 6000 aircraft, forming the Persistent ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Pegasus SIGINT Aircraft (Follow-On) [Germany]

  In 2021, Germany awarded a contract to Hensoldt for the Kalaetron integrated SIGINT system to be installed on three Bombardier Global 6000 aircraft, forming the Persistent ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - HALE

  Persistent Surveillance / High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS) [Japan]

  Programme Background Drone Appetite Released in December 2022, the Defence Buildup Programme (DBP) called on the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) to replace some human assets with ...

• AEW&C

  E-2D [USA]

  Programme Background The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye (AHE) is an all-weather, twin engine, carrier-based, Airborne Command, Control and Surveillance aircraft designed to extend task force defence ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  MH-60R [Spain]

  Programme Background On 16 March 2022, the US State Department approved an FMS to Spain for eight MH-60R helicopters and associated equipment and weaponry for $950 ...

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  First-Person View (FPV) UAV [USMC]

  Background Request for Information (RFI) In December 2025, a US government procurement website posted an RFI concerning a USMC acquisition of 10,000 drones, mostly first-person view ...

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

  Medium Altitude Persistent Surveillance System (MAPSS) [India]

  Background Order In January 2026, ThePrint reported that the Indian Army had placed an order worth Rs 168 crore ($20 million) with NRT for the ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  Maritime Operations Helicopters Block 2 (South Korea)

  Programme Background The Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) was seeking additional naval helicopters under its Maritime Operations Helicopter Batch 2 (MOH2) project. It represented a ...

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - small

  Containerized Autonomous Drone Delivery System (CADDS) (Group 1-3) [US]

  Background Concept In early February 2026, the Defence Innovation Unit (DIU) stated that it required the ability to rapidly deploy large quantities of UAS while minimising the ...

• ISR/special mission

  P-1 EW [Japan]

  Programme Background Requirement Japan has operated the EP-3, a COMINT/SIGINT/ELINT configuration of the P-3 Orion, since 1993. As of 2024, the Japanese MoD maintains that these aircraft ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

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

  Indago

  Indago is a small quadrotor UAV with VTOL. It is equipped with a large-screen handset and is marketed as 'whisper-quiet' with a noise level of ...

• Light UGVs

  Dragon Runner

  The Dragon Runner UGV, manufactured by QinitiQ, has two versions: the Dragon Runner 10 (DR10) and the slightly larger Dragon Runner 20 (DR20). All Dragon ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  MPU5

  The MPU5 (WR-5100) has been described as a smart MANET radio, designed for connectivity, interchangeable frequency module, stream HD video and integrated Radio over IP functionality. ...

• Data links

  MiMMC

  Microsat Man-Packable Mission Command (MiMMC) is a satellite-based BLoS communications system providing the ability to extend mission command applications including voice, video and data transfer ...

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

  Sentinel

  First displayed at DSEI 2023, Sentinel is a tethered drone from Drone Evolution. Designed to support various applications, such as increased ISR, EW and communications, ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  SOVERON VR

  Designed by Rohde&Schwarz;, the SOVERON VR is a ruggedised vehicle SDR that supports the V/UHF band. Notably, it comes with a built-in amplifier and a cosite ...

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

  Orion HL

  The Elistair Orion Heavy Lift (HL) is a rotary-wing tethered UAV designed for use as a persistent relay solution to form part of a secured mobile network. ...

• Medium UGVs

  Multi-Utility Tactical Transport (MUTT)

  The Multi-Utility Tactical Transport (MUTT) UGV is designed to be a multirole, rugged, small-unit forcemultiplier. Able to operate in remote-controlled, tethered or tele-operated modes, it ...

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

  Medium Altitude Persistent Surveillance System (MAPSS)

  The Medium Altitude Persistent Surveillance System (MAPSS) is a solar-powered UAV developed by NewSpace Research & Technologies (NRT).  An evolution of the High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS), ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  SOVERON HR

  The SOVERON HR5000 is a multiband handheld radio that supports two voice channels and IP data transmission in parallel. Developed by Rohde&Schwarz;, it is in ...

• EO/IR systems

  AWAPSS

  The AWAPSS is an airborne surveillance system developed by BAE Systems. It is designed to perform persistent day-and-night surveillance. The system integrates advanced electro-optical (EO) ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  MIPR

  The Military IP Radio (MIPR) is described as a next-generation tactical IP radio designed to deliver high-speed broadband data communication to the battlefield. Modular and ...

• Light UGVs

  Talon

  The Talon is a medium-sized tactical UGV that was first introduced in 2000. Manufactured by QinetiQ, the drone is described as a multi-mission Explosive Ordnance ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Orion

  The Orion is a twin-engine UAS capable of flying for over 100h at a time with large payloads. The system has a length of 40.2m, ...

• Major networking projects

  BACN/RAIDER

  Battlefield Airborne Communications Node/Rapid Attack Information Dissemination Execution Relay (BACN/RAIDER) is a MANET experiment in which a BACN radio network gateway aboard an RB-57 Canberra ...