• Defence Notes

  DSEI 2013: UK awards MBDA missile contract

  10th September 2013

  UK minister of state for defence Philip Hammond announced the award of a £250 million contract to MBDA for the production of Sea Ceptor missiles …

• Land Warfare

  DSEI 2013: Sophie's choice for Thales

  10th September 2013

  A new lightweight variant of the SOPHIE multifunction surveillance and target locating cameras has been launched by Thales UK at the DSEI exhibition. The company …

• Digital Battlespace

  DSEI 2013: Q-Warrior leads BAE charge

  10th September 2013

  BAE Systems has launched the newest variant of its see-through helmet mounted display (HMD), the Q-Warrior for dismounted soldiers. Leading on from its LiteHUD and …

• Digital Battlespace

  DSEI 2013: Lockheed Martin unleashes the Dragon

  10th September 2013

  Customers are increasing looking to the contract-by-the-hour mechanism for their ISR requirements, according to Lockheed Martin, in comments that reflect wider industry trends. At the …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  QinetiQ demonstrates coordinated C2 of UAVs

  10th September 2013

  QinetiQ has recently completed a demonstration at the Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) Centre at Parc Aberporth that saw multiple UAS and their onboard mission systems …

• Land Warfare

  AeroVironment details additional Switchblade orders

  10th September 2013

  The US Army has placed orders for the AeroVironment Switchblade tactical missile system, ancillary equipment and support, worth a total of $36.7 million. The orders …

• Military Logistics

  DSEI 2013: New Zip replacement cooking fuel unveiled

  10th September 2013

  Zip unveiled its new powerful, lightweight, non-toxic Military Cooking Fuel in the UK for the first time at the DSEI exhibition as a replacement fuel …

• Land Warfare

  DSEI 2013: Tarian armour fitted to Husky

  10th September 2013

  Amsafe Bridport has displayed its Tarian lightweight armour system in a service-ready standard on the Navistar Husky vehicle for the first time at the DSEi …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  DSEI 2013: Assistant air chief hits out against Reaper opponents

  10th September 2013

  In a somewhat defiant act against domestic critics of the RAF’s MQ-9 Reaper operations, the assistant chief of the air staff (ACAS) has played down …

• Land Warfare

  Details emerge of the PL-01 Direct Support Vehicle

  9th September 2013

  The PL-01 Direct Support Vehicle (DSV) concept was unveiled to the public at the MSPO exhibition in Poland from 2-5 September. The DSV is about …

• Defence Helicopter

  DSEI 2013: DARPA expands PCAS focus

  9th September 2013

  The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has re-scoped the work being carried out under its Persistent Close Air Support (PCAS) programme, it has …

• Land Warfare

  Stinger trainer undergoes VSHORADS field trials

  9th September 2013

  The Raytheon Stinger missile has undergone a series of Very Short Range Air Defense System (SHORADS) field trials in Finland, during which the company said …

• Land Warfare

  DSEI 2013: XL Sherpa APC to be unveiled

  6th September 2013

  An enlarged version of the Sherpa 4x4 APC built by Renault Trucks Defense (RTD) will be on display for the first time at the DSEI exhibition …

• Digital Battlespace

  USAF furthers directed energy bio-effects research

  5th September 2013

  The United States Air Force (USAF) has awarded General Dynamics a research contract for the Directed Energy Bio-effects Research (DEBR) programme, it was announced on …

• Defence Helicopter

  French Army Pumas to be fitted with SN4500 display

  4th September 2013

  Sandel Avionics will supply its SN4500 Primary Navigation Display for the French Army’s Puma helicopters under an agreement announced on 4 September. The installation work …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  Rafale [France]

  Programme Background Rafale F4 is the latest configuration of the Rafale fighter jet family. New functions will also be developed to improve the aircraft’s capabilities ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  MH-60R [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirement The RAN already has 24 MH-60R Seahawks (the last delivered in September 2016), so this represents a 50% increase in fleet size. ...

• ISR/special mission

  ISTAR Aircraft [South Korea]

  Programme Background 2018 - Issue of RfI The South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) stated that Seoul planned to procure additional aircraft to minimise potential surveillance ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Project Sea 129 Phase 5 [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirement Project Sea 129 Phase 5 was intended to acquire a new ISR UAS capability for the RAN. The aircraft was required to perform ...

• Landing craft and hovercraft

  Littoral Manoeuvre Vessel - Medium (Project Land 8710 Phase 1A) [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirements Australia has set out requirements for a fleet of up to 18 Littoral Manoeuvre Vessels - Medium (LMV-M) with the release of ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing

  VTOL UAV [New Zealand]

  Background Defence Capability Plan (DCP) In April 2025, the New Zealand government published the DCP, a document that is essentially a blueprint for what procurements ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | ISTAR Aircraft [South Korea]

  The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) has a requirement for up to four intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) aircraft to supplement its ...

• Data links

  Data links | ISTAR Aircraft [South Korea]

  The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) has a requirement for up to four intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) aircraft to supplement its ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | ISTAR Aircraft [South Korea]

  The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) has a requirement for up to four intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) aircraft to supplement its ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | ISTAR Aircraft [South Korea]

  The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) has a requirement for up to four intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) aircraft to supplement its ...

• ISR/special mission

  E-6 TACAMO Recapitalisation Programme (E-130J) [USN]

  Programme Background The E-6 Take Charge and Move Out (TACAMO) Recapitalisation Programme (E-XX) provides for air vehicle replacement and mission systems modernization to augment and eventually ...

• Main battle tanks

  M1A2T Abrams [Taiwain]

  Programme Background Taiwan has had a long-standing desire to attain M1A1 or M1A2 Abrams from the US in order to replace elderly M60A3 TTS and CM11 ...

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

  MQ-9A Reaper Block 5 [Italy]

  Programme Background Initial Procurement Italy submitted a $330 million FMS request through the Defence Security Cooperation Agency for four MQ-9A aircraft, four GCS and five ...

• ISR/special mission

  MC-27J [Algeria]

  Programme Background Algeria has a long standing ISR aircraft requirement to support its Beech 1900 fleet comprised of six aircraft. The new ISR fleet is ...

• Submarines: nuclear/ballistic missile

  Dreadnought Class (Successor Programme) (1-4) [UK]

  Programme Background Requirements The Dreadnought-class, prior to being named in October 2016, was known as the Successor programme, which was approved by the government in May ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Surface-to-air missiles

  SM-2 Block IIIC/Block IIICU

  The SM-2 Block IIIC and Block IIICU are medium-range, surface-to-air missiles with active radio frequency seekers. Both missiles are modifications to legacy SM-2 Block III/IIIA/IIIB ...

• Man-portable missile systems

  FIM-92 Stinger

  The FIM-92 Stinger, passive-guided MANPADS, was developed by General Dynamics to meet the requirements of the US Army to defence against low-flying threats. It replaced ...

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  ESTL

  The Enhanced Survivability Technology (ESTL) is an integrated self-protection pod with missile approach warning (MAWS) manufactured by Saab. It is designed to counter RF and IR ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  SkyCeptor

  The SkyCeptor missile is a multi-mission interceptor developed collaboratively by Raytheon and Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. It is a derivative of the Stunner missile ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) Block 2

  The RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) Block 2 is a short-range, ship-launched missile designed primarily to defend naval vessels against incoming anti-ship missiles and aerial ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  SM-1MR Block VI

  The RIM-66 Standard-1MR is a medium-range surface-to-air missile that can also take on the role of an anti-ship missile. It was developed as part of ...

• Multipurpose missiles

  BGM-71 TOW

  The BGM-71 Tube-launched Optically tracked Wire-guided (TOW) missile entered US Army service in 1970. As well as being integrated on vehicles and helicopters, TOW can be ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  AN/SPY-3

  The AN/SPY-3 is a multifunction naval radar developed and manufactured by Raytheon. Its intended uses include horizon and surface search, navigation, periscope detection, discrimination, and ...

• Sea: weapon training

  SM-1 and SM-2 Standard Missile and Harpoon Missile with Guided Missile Launcher Mk 13 Mod 4 Simulator

  Textron's SM-1 and SM-2 Standard Missile and Harpoon Missile simulator simulates a guided missile launching system and guided missile launcher, Mk 13 Mod 4, in ...

• Sea: ship surveillance and fire control systems

  MK 99

  The MK 99 is a fire control system developed and produced by Raytheon.  The system works as an interface to connect a vessel's missiles and ...

• Land: air defence radar

  LTAMDS

  The Raytheon Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense System (LTAMDS) is an active electronically scanned array Gallium Nitrade (GaN) radar. The use of GaN strengthens ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 Block IIA

  The SM-3 Block IIA is an advanced interceptor missile designed for exo-atmospheric engagements against intermediate-range ballistic missiles and limited intercontinental ballistic missile threats. The SM-3 Block ...

• Surface-to-air missiles, Surface-to-surface missiles

  RIM-174 Standard ERAM SM-6 Block I/IA

  The SM-6 (RIM-174 Standard ERAM) is a surface-to-air supersonic missile launched from cruisers and destroyers, capable of successfully engaging crewed and uncrewed, fixed- or rotary-wing ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming, Air: EO/IR – Jamming Systems

  Quiet Eyes

  Quiet Eyes is a laser DIRCM system, manufactured by Raytheon. The pointer/tracker turret system protects aircrafts from IR-guided missiles by jamming the missile, directing the threat away ...

• Long Range Missile Defence Systems: > 90km range

  Mk-57 VLS

  The Mk 57 Vertical Launching System (VLS), developed by Raytheon, is an advanced missile launching system designed to enhance the offensive and defensive capabilities of ...