• Naval Warfare

  World Defense Show 2024: First NiDAR CUAS set for combat ships

  6th February 2024

  NiDAR has already been operational on M/V Asterix, a naval auxiliary ship to the Royal Canadian Navy, marking the first time the system was put to use on a NATO-associated vessel.

• Land Warfare

  World Defense Show 2024: FNSS unveils new Pars Alpha offering larger gun options and better protection

  5th February 2024

  The new Pars Alpha 8x8 will compete for the Turkish Army’s New Generation Light Armoured Vehicle (NGLAV) programme.

• Air Warfare

  World Defense Show 2024: Leonardo and Saudi Arabia to explore defence solutions together

  5th February 2024

  Saudi Arabia and Leonardo have agreed to explore collaboration opportunities in the defence sector, including airframe maintenance, assembly of helicopters and next-generation technology initiatives.

• Air Warfare

  BAE Systems buys Ball Aerospace for whopping $5.5 billion

  16th February 2024

  BAE Systems has received the greenlight to acquire Ball Aerospace in a move that will bolster its space technology portfolio and deepen its presence in the lucrative US defence and intelligence market.

• Digital Battlespace

  Leonardo to develop a digital twin of a space cloud-based supercomputer

  19th February 2024

  Military Space Cloud Architecture (MILSCA) will be able to store more than 100 Terabytes of data generated on Earth and in space on board each constellation satellite with a processing power exceeding 250 TFLOPS (250,000 billion operations per second).

• Land Warfare

  Northrop Grumman missile interceptor passes test

  1st February 2024

  Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman-Raytheon have been competing for the Next Generation Interceptor programme to defend the US from Intercontinental Ballistic Missile threats.

• Defence Notes

  Can the US overcome Russian and Chinese nuclear capabilities?

  10th April 2024

  Washington’s ageing inventory and the pace Moscow and Beijing have been modernising their capabilities put in check the US Nuclear deterrence.

• Land Warfare

  World Defense Show 2024: Lacroix displays improved soft-kill vehicle protection system in Riyadh

  5th February 2024

  The Lacroix S-KAPS (Soft-Kill Advanced Protection System) has been designed to protect against laser-guided weapons and provide all-round surveillance.

• Air Warfare

  Singapore Airshow 2024: Pratt & Whitney to continue South Korean F-15 and F-16 engine sustainment

  14th February 2024

  South Korea’s DAPA has awarded Pratt & Whitney the third contract that will see the sustainment of the country's fighter fleet engines.

• Land Warfare

  Israel reevaluates its ammunition requirements as shortage looms

  16th February 2024

  Israel has challenges in ensuring its ammunition stocks do not dwindle further as it relies on US support and domestic suppliers to meet updated demands.

• Digital Battlespace

  Final Tranche 0 tracking satellites launched for US Missile Defense Agency

  15th February 2024

  The US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) initiated the Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS) programme in 2018 and in January 2021 awarded Other Transaction Agreements to L3Harris Technologies and Northrop Grumman for the creation of prototype systems.

• Naval Warfare

  Taiwan launches first IDS submarine in attempt to deter Chinese aggression

  4th March 2024

  Taipei’s morale-boosting US$1.5 billion submarine project has entered the water as Taiwan ramps up attempts to stall Chinese hostility.

• Naval Warfare

  Australia’s new frigate options: No easy choices as pressure mounts on DoD

  16th April 2024

  A new class of General Purpose ‘Tier 2’ frigate will replace the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN’s) Anzac-class frigates, but the selected design options appear to have major issues in terms of compatibility and availability for the future fleet.

• Air Warfare

  Taiwan to widen seven air force runways

  22nd January 2024

  By widening seven military runways, the East Asian island’s Ministry of National Defense has anticipated Chinese missile strikes and will increase its air force’s ability to counterstrike.

• Defence Notes

  World Defense Show 2024: The show’s second iteration adapts to a changing world

  13th February 2024

  Saudi Arabia’s welcomed the return of the World Defense Show with the event’s heavy focus on vehicles and CUS systems reflecting ongoing conflicts and the priorities of many national programmes.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• LTVs - 4x4

  MRZR D4 [Belgium]

  Background In September 2025, the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) awarded Polaris a framework agreement to supply vehicles across the alliance. This framework is intended to ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  Strategic Tanker Transport [Canada]

  Background This project will replace the existing fleet capability, including strategic airlift, air-to-air refuelling, Aeromedical Evacuations and Strategic Government of Canada transport. The Strategic Tanker ...

• Short Range Missile Defence Systems: 0 to 20 km range

  SPYDER-SR [Romania]

  Background The tender for Spyder air defense systems by Rafael was approved by the Romanian parliament in Bucharest in 2020. The procurement process of the systems ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | P-1 EW [Japan]

  Japan is advancing its electronic warfare (EW) capabilities through the development of an EW version of the domestically produced Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraft. The ...

• Data links

  Data links | P-1 EW [Japan]

  Japan is advancing its electronic warfare (EW) capabilities through the development of an EW version of the domestically produced Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraft. The ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | P-1 EW [Japan]

  Japan is advancing its electronic warfare (EW) capabilities through the development of an EW version of the domestically produced Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraft. The ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | P-1 EW [Japan]

  Japan is advancing its electronic warfare (EW) capabilities through the development of an EW version of the domestically produced Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraft. The ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-1Z [Romania]

  The Romanian MoD has a long-standing requirement for new rotary platforms, including troop transport, supply and attack configurations. According to the the Military Strategy document, ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-64E APACHE [USA]

  Programme Background According to the FY2021 Defense Budget, the US Army procured 81 new-build AH-64E Apaches.The FY2021 Army budget shows 61 prior-year new-build AH-64Es and ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Infantry Squad Vehicle (Heavy) [USA]

  Background The US Army has been operating the ISV since 2019. It currently serves alongside the JLTV and HMMWV in the Army's Mobile Brigade Combat ...

• Medium Range Missile Defence Systems: 20-90km range

  Hisar (Steel Dome) [Turkey]

  Background Türkiye is procuring three domestically developed HİSAR Medium-Range Air Defence Systems. The systems are part of the Steel Dome air defence system. The HİSAR ...

• Loitering munitions

  Drone Dominance Program (DDP): Gauntlet 2 [US]

  Background Overview As noted by the Department of War (DOW), the Drone Dominance Program (DDP) is an iterative $1 billion plan to purchase small, lethal drones ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | IF-X/KF-X procurement [Indonesia]

  Indonesian Air Force is planning to procure around 48 fighter jets under the joint KF-X/IF-X programme (see separate entries for Indonesian and South Korean development ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | IF-X/KF-X procurement [Indonesia]

  Indonesian Air Force is planning to procure around 48 fighter jets under the joint KF-X/IF-X programme (see separate entries for Indonesian and South Korean development ...

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - mini

  Spike Firefly [Vietnam]

  Background Reported Deal In February 2026, media outlets such as The Defence Post and Intelligence Online reported that Vietnam’s Ministry of Defense had signed a ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Trailers

  Tactical Trailer

  Polaris Defense developed the single-axle Tactical Trailer, able to carry a 450kg cargo, for use with its family of MRZR all-terrain vehicles. 

• LTVs - 4x4

  DAGOR/DAGOR A1

  In October 2014 at the AUSA Annual event, Polaris Defense unveiled its 4x4 Deployable Advanced Ground Off-Road (DAGOR) vehicle as its submission for the US ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Airborne Launching and Attack System (AirLAS)

  The Airborne Launching and Attack System (AirLAS) is a system that pairs Diehl Defence's IRIS-T air-to-air missile with a reusable carrier UAV developed by POLARIS. The companies ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  MRZR D4

  Unveiled at the Special Operations Forces Industry Conference in May 2016, the MRZR D4 is a high-performance, turbo-charged diesel variant of the MRZR 4 off-road ...

• Sea: procedural training

  Polaris Desktop Bridge Trainer

  Described as a cost-effective alternative for training multiple students, the Polaris Desktop Bridge Trainer incorporates many of the features of the full navy bridge trainer, ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  MRZR 4

  The MRZR 4 is derived from the Polaris RZR commercial 4x4 all-terrain vehicle with modifications to make it suitable for military use.  Over 1,500 MRZR ...

• Sea: procedural training

  Polaris Navy Bridge Trainer

  The Polaris Navy Bridge Trainer simulates the bridge of a specific class of naval vessel, or as a generic bridge suitable for training personnel from ...

• Sea: tactical training

  Proteus Surface Warship CTT

  In addition to the generic Proteus Action Speed Tactical Trainer (ASTT), Kongsberg can also provide Command Team Trainers (CTT) tailored to the specific needs of ...

• Land: battle management systems

  FAAD/C-RAM C2

  The Forward Area Air Defense (FAAD) Command and Control (C2) system was developed by Northrop Grumman to provide command and control (C2) for the US Army ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  MRZR D2

  Originally introduced in 2013, the MRZR family of vehicles is in service with the US and several other militaries across the world.  On 20 February ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  MRZR Alpha

  The MRZR Alpha is an improved variant of the Polaris MRZR series developed to meet a US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) requirement for a follow-on Light Tactical ...

• Individual assault/anti-tank weapons

  Fletcher

  Arnold Defense, which has produced more than 1.1 million 2.75in/70mm rocket launchers for airborne applications since 1961, unveiled the Fletcher 2.75in/70mm Weapon System at the September ...

• Medium UGVs

  MRZR X

  Team Polaris unveiled the unmanned MRZR X multi-mode, connected vehicle for the first time at the AUVSI trade show in 2018. The MRZR X has been ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Sportsman MV850

  The Sportsman MV850 is derived from the Polaris Sportsman commercial 4x4 all-terrain vehicle and has been modified for military use. The MV850 seats one with ...

• Sea: weapon training

  Proteus Naval Weapon Trainer

  Kongsberg has developed a crew-served and remotely operated simulation architecture that provides man-in-the-loop training for close-in weapon systems. The trainer is already in service as ...