• Defence Notes

  BEL chimes with major Indian programmes

  11th May 2016

  Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) have revealed updates on some of its key programmes for the Indian military, including artillery, digital equipment and armoured vehicles. A company …

• Training

  ITEC 2016: Training inflation

  10th May 2016

  The Bideford, UK-based Inflatable Wall Company (IWC) has announced a number of new orders. The Royal Australian Regiment, Austrian Ministry of Defence and Zurich Police …

• Defence Notes

  US military expand kinetic energy efforts

  9th May 2016

  The US Marine Corps (USMC) is joining the US Army in an expanded vision for kinetic human-generated energy designs, also known as kinetic energy harvesting. …

• Training

  ITEC 2016: Latest VBS3 version launched by BISim

  9th May 2016

  Serious games technologies have been a key component of military virtual simulation for more than a decade now and Bohemia Interactive Simulations’ (BISim) VBS3 forms …

• Defence Helicopter

  Tight race for Singapore helicopters

  9th May 2016

  International OEMs are looking to secure a lucrative contract and bragging rights as the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) replaces two squadrons of AS332/532 …

• Land Warfare

  India’s assault rifle battle sizzles

  6th May 2016

  An RfP to replace the Indian Small Arms System (INSAS) 5.56mm assault rifle for the Indian Army is caught in a bind. The Defence Research …

• Military Logistics

  Babcock to manage defence vehicles

  6th May 2016

  Babcock has been awarded a £47 million contract to manage the hired and leased vehicles of the British Ministry of Defence (MoD), the ministry announce …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUVSI 2016: Endeavor Robotics to continue with current UGV lineup

  5th May 2016

  Attending Xponential for the first time since the formation of Endeavor Robotics, company officials say they will concentrate on marketing their existing lineup of UGVs …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUVSI 2016: Sikorsky eyes K-MAX technology

  5th May 2016

  Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky are set to leverage each other’s autonomous technologies following their merger last year, potentially creating a powerhouse in the industry for …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUVSI 2016: UGV development rolling forward

  5th May 2016

  Several years ago when the threat to soldiers in theatres was the improvised explosive device (IED), industry responded with solutions such as robotic trucks that …

• Land Warfare

  ArmorSource to deliver USMC helmets

  5th May 2016

  ArmorSource has been awarded an order by the US Marine Corps (USMC) to deliver 10,000 Lightweight Helmets, the company announced on 3 May. The helmets …

• Digital Battlespace

  NIE 16.2: Command Post Computing grows

  5th May 2016

  The Command Post Computing Environment (CP CE) is being used for the first time by the US Army at the Brigade Combat Team level. An …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUVSI 2016: Legacy Black Hawks to go unmanned

  5th May 2016

  Sikorsky is on track to roll out the first UH-60A Black Hawk prototype fitted with optionally-piloted capabilities later this year, company officials have confirmed. It …

• Digital Battlespace

  NIE 16.2: US Army keeps cyber focus

  5th May 2016

  Cyber defence is one of the main priorities during the latest US Army Network Integration Evaluation iteration 16.2. Trials, which started on 2 May, are …

• Naval Warfare

  HMS Tyne completes OST

  5th May 2016

  HMS Tyne, a River-class offshore patrol vessel of the British Royal Navy, has successfully completed Operational Sea Training (OST) and is ready for continued operations …

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 ...