• Training

  Inzpire's GECO mission planning system rolls out to boost Royal Air Force training

  12th May 2023

  The UK Military Flying Training System is rolling out the GECO mission planning system, used by frontline RAF squadrons, on additional fixed- and rotary-wing trainer aircraft fleets in 2023.

• Training

  US Navy takes lead on Middle East maritime security training

  23rd May 2023

  The Bahrain-based Combined Maritime Forces partnership has stood up a USN-led task force to support multination training events in the region covering maritime awareness, law, interdiction, rescue and leadership development.

• Training

  QinetiQ partners with US Navy and NATO on Formidable Shield exercise

  19th May 2023

  QinetiQ is providing range management, aerial targets and support and evaluation services for the multinational multi-domain Exercise Formidable Shield taking place in the UK and Norway.

• Air Warfare

  Trillium imaging payloads selected for British Army's Stalker VXE30 drone fleet

  24th May 2023

  Trillium Engineering's HD55 series payloads will equip the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works Stalker VXE30 ISR UAS supplied to the British Army under the UK MoD's Project Tiquila effort.

• Air Warfare

  BAE Systems highlights need to invest in skills and infrastructure to de-risk next-gen combat aircraft programme

  19th April 2023

  BAE Systems has won a contract extension worth £656m from the UK MoD to develop the concept and technology for the next generation combat aircraft, part of the Tempest project, but will need to ensure it has the right niche skills and digital and physical infrastructure to successfully deliver.

• Training

  Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023 was all about countering China (Opinion)

  16th August 2023

  The recently concluded Talisman Sabre exercise in Australia, the largest ever in the series, was conducted with the threat of an aggressive China and PLA uppermost in mind.

• Training

  Aeralis and AirTanker partner to explore fast jet pilot training

  31st January 2023

  The MoU signed between Aeralis and AirTanker will assess upcoming contracts in military flying training and also defence operational training and combat air support roles.

• Air Warfare

  Leonardo delivers first ECRS Mk2 radar prototype for RAF Typhoon fleet

  21st April 2023

  The new European Common Radar System Mk2 features a multi-functional array that can perform traditional radar functions and EW tasks as well.

• Air Warfare

  Royal Air Force begins training on new Protector remotely piloted aircraft system

  10th May 2023

  The Royal Air Force has started training its first cohort of pilots, sensor operators and mission intelligence coordinators on operating its new Protector at General Atomics' Flight Test & Training Centre in the US.

• Air Warfare

  Raytheon upgrades KAI FA-50 combat aircraft with PhantomStrike radar

  16th May 2023

  Raytheon is to integrate its PhantomStrike fire control radar on the KAI FA-50 light attack aircraft.

• Land Warfare

  Rheinmetall, Elbit test-fire automated howitzer system

  19th May 2023

  Rheinmetall and Elbit have test-fired a new 155mm wheeled howitzer system aimed primarily at fulfilling Germany's Future System, Indirect Fire, Medium-Range (ZukSysIndF) requirement.

• Training

  US Air Force recommences Air Operations Center training activity

  19th May 2023

  After a six-month pause the USAF has recommenced training personnel to serve in its Air Operations Centers.

• Defence Notes

  IMDEX 2023: MBDA and PGZ partnership includes ‘deep industrial cooperation’ on CAMM-ER

  6th May 2023

  MBDA has confirmed that work with Poland on land and maritime air defence includes cooperation on the extended-range version of the Common Anti-Air Modular Missile (CAMM), known as CAMM-ER.

• Naval Warfare

  UK Subs agency renews strategic agreement with QinetiQ

  6th April 2023

  The UK’s Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA) has renewed a Maritime Strategic Capability Agreement (MSCA), worth £259 million, with QinetiQ for another ten years.

• Training

  BMT secures contract to provide specialised training for Royal Navy aircraft carrier personnel

  16th May 2023

  BMT will deploy an advanced five-bridge immersive training simulator to help train the UK's aircraft carrier crew for complex manoeuvres and other tasks.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military helicopters - multirole

  H135 (UK)

  Programme BackgroundAirbus Helicopters UK announced on 2 February 2022 that it has won an order to provide five additional H135 twin-engine helicopters for the MoD. The ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Global Combat Air Programme [UK]

  Programme Background The next-generation platform concept is part of the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review, which sought to deliver a Future Combat Air System ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing

  FPV & Attack Drones (Ukraine Aid) [UK & Norway]

  Background £450 million On 11 April 2025, the UK MoD announced a £450 million package for Ukraine, which included £350 million from the UK from this ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Fleet Solid Support (FSS) (1-3) [UK]

  Programme Background Requirement The 2015 Strategic Defence & Security Review (SDSR) highlighted the requirement for three Military Afloat Reach & Sustainability (MARS) Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ...

• 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 ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Typhoon Tranche 3A - Qatar

  As a part of the agreement to sell Typhoon, the UK is establishing a ‘Joint Operations Squadron’ (to be known as 12 Squadron) with the ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Ukraine - UK supplied Fast Inshore Attack Craft (FIAC)

  Programme Background It was first reported in late September 2020 that the UK could provide eight Barzan-class fast attack craft to Ukraine. The platform has been ...

• MPVs - 4x4, Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles

  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 ...

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

  30,000 FPV Drones (Ukraine Aid) [UK]

  Programme Background IDCC On 9 January 2025, the UK MoD announced that 30,000 FPV drones would be sent to Ukraine after the awarding of £45 million ...

• Maritime patrol

  P-8A Poseidon [UK]

  Programme Background In July 2016, the UK government announced that it had ordered nine aircraft for service with the RAF. Under this frame, in January ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  New Medium Helicopter (NMH) [UK]

  Programme Background NMH Market Interest Day On 11 November 2021, the MoD communicated the requirements of the £1 billion ($1.34 billion) New Medium Helicopter (NMH) ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | F-35B Follow-On [UK]

  The Royal Air Force is planning to acquire 90 F-35B Joint Strike Fighters from 2026, in addition to the 48 aircraft which London had ordered for delivery ...

• Data links

  Data links | F-35B Follow-On [UK]

  The Royal Air Force is planning to acquire 90 F-35B Joint Strike Fighters from 2026, in addition to the 48 aircraft which London had ordered for delivery ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | F-35B Follow-On [UK]

  The Royal Air Force is planning to acquire 90 F-35B Joint Strike Fighters from 2026, in addition to the 48 aircraft which London had ordered for delivery ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | F-35B Follow-On [UK]

  The Royal Air Force is planning to acquire 90 F-35B Joint Strike Fighters from 2026, in addition to the 48 aircraft which London had ordered for delivery ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  UK MFTS

  The Military Flying Training System (MFTS) programme, is a private finance initiative involving the MoD and Ascent, a JV of Lockheed Martin and Babcock, which was ...

• Trainer

  Phenom 100

  Phenom 100 is a very light jet originally developed for single owner-pilot operation but later gained popularity as a jet trainer aircraft. The platform first ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  CAE 700MR

  The CAE 700MR FTD is a full mission simulator platform for military helicopter-specific flight and mission training. It is a fixed-base system based on CAE's ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  UK MSHATF

  The Medium Support Helicopter Aircrew Training Facility (MSHATF) opened for training at RAF Benson, England in July 1999. It provides training services to personnel from ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  UK/ARC341 (ADRA)

  The Advanced Digital Radio Airborne (ADRA) provides a Bowman VHF radio capability to helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. It is fully compatible with the Bowman VHF ...

• Submarines: nuclear, attack

  AUKUS SSN

  The AUKUS-SSN will be the submarine design resulting from the AUKUS trilateral pact between Australia, the US and the UK. Expected to incorporate technology from ...

• Major networking projects

  Project Marshall

  The Joint Military Air Traffic Services project was initiated by the UK MoD in November 2005 to identify and evaluate options for the future delivery ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  ASTOR FBFCT

  The Fixed Base Flight Crew Trainer (FBFCT) is a Level 5+ FTD for the UK RAF’s Airborne Standoff Radar (ASTOR) platform. The ASTOR FBFCT is ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  BvS10 Beowulf

  BAE Systems Hägglunds launched the BvS10 Beowulf articulated tracked ATV at the September 2015 DSEI exhibition in the UK. The Beowulf is an unarmoured variant ...

• Military UGVs

  T7

  The T7 is a multi-mission robotic system designed for military, police and hazardous missions. At DSEI 2017, the UK MoD awarded the Harris Corporation a ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  ADR+ Bowman VHF/Centaur

  The ADR+ is the VHF vehicle and manpack radio member of the ADR family of VHF radios developed initially for the UK Bowman programme. The ...

• Data links

  AN/URC-138

  The AN/URC-138 is a Link 16 interoperable terminal originally developed for the Sea Harrier. It has the same Link 16 crypto as JTIDS/MIDS. The system ...

• Air-to-surface missiles

  Storm Shadow/SCALP EG

  The Storm Shadow is an air-launched cruise missile developed by France, Italy and the UK. It is known as the Storm Shadow in the UK ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Warthog

  The Warthog is based on the ST Kinetics Bronco all terrain tracked carrier (ATTC) and was developed to meet a UK MoD urgent operational requirement ...

• Naval: COMINT and ELINT systems

  Outfit UAP

  Outfit UAP is an ESM system developed by Thales for UK RN submarines including Astute-class submarines.