• Defence Notes

  L3Harris to design satellite payload for tracking hypersonic threats

  30th June 2023

  L3Harris has been contracted to carry out critical design phase work to provide data predictions for an infrared satellite-based sensor to track hypersonic missiles.

• Land Warfare

  Bulgaria gets billion-dollar green light to buy Stryker armoured vehicles

  5th September 2023

  The sale of 183 General Dynamics Land Systems Stryker armoured fighting vehicles to Bulgaria in a range of variants has been approved by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) as a Foreign Military Sale in a deal worth $1.5 billion.

• Naval Warfare

  New Exocet variants secure anti-ship missile capability for the future

  16th October 2023

  MBDA and the French Navy have completed the test firing of a new Exocet MM40 Block 3c anti-ship missile (AShM) from Aquitaine-class frigate FS Alsace.

• Air Warfare

  UAVs at TADTE 2023 highlight Taiwan’s defence aspirations

  17th September 2023

  Taiwan revealed several new UAVs at TADTE 2023, including a follow-on loitering munition.

• Digital Battlespace

  DSEI 2023: Northrop Grumman rolls out BattleOne integrated command and control package

  13th September 2023

  Northrop Grumman's BattleOne concept aims to transcend domain and national boundaries to produce an overarching command and control capability with integrated artificial intelligence.

• Naval Warfare

  DSEI 2023: OSK pitches Arctic frigate design for new Danish Navy requirement

  13th September 2023

  OSK Design has revealed details of its Arctic frigate concept, designed to replace Denmark's ageing Thetis class for operations in the High North.

• Naval Warfare

  Dutch naval CIWS upgrades face delays

  26th September 2023

  Installation of a replacement close-in-weapon system (CIWS) on the main surface warships of the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) has been delayed.

• Defence Notes

  US to increase funds for artificial intelligence capabilities in FY2024

  11th August 2023

  Senate Committee on Appropriations recently proposed allocating $281 million above the Pentagon’s budget request to advance the use of AI.

• Naval Warfare

  Italian Navy overcomes delays in PPA ship deliveries

  29th September 2023

  Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri delivered the third of seven Pattugliatori Polivalenti d'Altura (PPA) Multipurpose Offshore Patrol Vessel to the Italian Navy during a ceremony on 27 September.

• Air Warfare

  Collins-Elbit JV wins contract to supply US Navy with helmet-mounted cueing system

  7th September 2023

  Ahead of DSEI 2023, Collins Elbit Vision Systems (CEVS) has released details of its new Zero-G HMDS+ helmet mounted display system and announced it has been awarded a $16 million development contract from the US Navy (USN) for the Improved Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (IJHMCS).

• Air Warfare

  DSEI 2023: MBDA details CONOPS for Spear-EW stand-off jammer as MoD releases development funds

  13th September 2023

  Spear-EW, an airborne electronic warfare (EW) system under development by MBDA for use on the UK F-35 fleet, is set to receive additional funding for its rapid design phase from the MoD, the company has announced.

• Air Warfare

  Return of the mach: MBDA positions itself to lead European counter-hypersonic development at Paris Air Show

  21st June 2023

  MBDA is leading a consortium of companies seeking to develop a counter-hypersonic interceptor over the next three years with the support of four European countries.

• Land Warfare

  Ukraine to receive new type of counter drone system [UPDATED]

  30th August 2023

  Kongsberg is to deliver the Cortex Typhon CUAS through the International Fund for Ukraine (IFU). The systems will provide essential aerial threat protection capabilities, enhancing Ukraine's ability to combat UAVs such as Shahen 136.

• Naval Warfare

  Pakistan Navy renewal gathers pace as new OPV launched

  20th September 2023

  The launch of the first of a new pair of Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) for the Pakistan Navy (PN) on 12 September indicates an acceleration in the modernisation of the service as it introduces new ships into service.

• Air Warfare

  Germany adds AI backbone to FCAS next-generation fighter jet

  1st September 2023

  A consortium of Helsing and Rohde & Schwarz has been selected by the German BAAINBw defence procurement agency to deliver an artificial intelligence (AI) backbone for the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) sixth-generation fighter jet.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Destroyers

  Type 83 Future Air Defence System (FADS) [UK]

  Programme Background Requirements The Daring-class (Type 45) consists of six ships, although the original plan was to have 12 destroyers. This was cut to eight in ...

• Destroyers

  Future Destroyers - ASEV (1-2) [Japan]

  Programme Background Requirements Following the Maya-class destroyers, the JMSDF will not just maintain the destroyer units they operate already but will receive two new destroyer platforms. ...

• Medium UGVs

  Mission Master (RPV Sprial 2) [UK]

  Programme Background First announced in April 2017 and referred to in early MOD documents as the ‘last mile resupply’ initiative, the British Army is reportedly ...

• Frigates

  European Combat Vessel [Spain]

  Programme Background Requirements The European Combat Vessel (ECV) is currently a conceptual project that seeks to design a European collaborative multi-mission, modular warship. As of ...

• 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 helicopters - multirole

  H-145M (Serbia)

  Serbia's aircraft will be equipped with a fast roping system, high-performance camera, fire support equipment, ballistic protection as well as an electronic countermeasures system. The ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  JLTV [Slovenia - 2nd Batch]

  Programme Background  Slovenia began its procurement of Oshkosh Defence's JLTV 4x4 armoured vehicle in 2018, although a US government FMS contract was not signed until ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  L-39NG Senegal

  The aircraft will feature five hard-points, two external fuel tanks with 350 lt capacity, Mk 81 and Mk 82 bombs, guided and unguided rockets, single ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | PAK-DA - Procurement - Russia

  Russian MoD is planning to procure PAK-DA strategic bomber aircraft to replace the existing Tu-95MS Bear-H fleet, about 65 examples of which are in service with ...

• Data links

  Data links | PAK-DA - Procurement - Russia

  Russian MoD is planning to procure PAK-DA strategic bomber aircraft to replace the existing Tu-95MS Bear-H fleet, about 65 examples of which are in service with ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | PAK-DA - Procurement - Russia

  Russian MoD is planning to procure PAK-DA strategic bomber aircraft to replace the existing Tu-95MS Bear-H fleet, about 65 examples of which are in service with ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | PAK-DA - Procurement - Russia

  Russian MoD is planning to procure PAK-DA strategic bomber aircraft to replace the existing Tu-95MS Bear-H fleet, about 65 examples of which are in service with ...

• Medium UGVs

  Mission Master (RPV Sprial 3) [UK]

  Programme Background First announced in April 2017 and referred to in early MOD documents as the ‘last mile resupply’ initiative, the British Army is reportedly ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  NH90 NFH-Italy

  Programme Background  The Italian Navy has taken delivery of its first NH90 NFH helicopter in Full Operational Capability (or Step B) configuration in November 2013. ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  UNIFIL Condor Replacement [Malaysia]

  Programme Background Malaysia has long held an intention to replace the Condor 4x4 armoured vehicles deployed with its UNIFIL contingent. Nine new Guardian APCs were ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Anti-ship missiles

  Brahmos II

  The BrahMos-II is the hypersonic version of the BrahMos cruise missile family currently under joint development by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia's ...

• Anti-ship missiles, Surface-to-surface missiles

  3M22 Zircon

  The 3M22 Zircon, developed by Russia, is a hypersonic cruise missile representing a significant technological milestone in missile design and capability. According to the information ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  SkySonic

  The SkySonic is an advanced hypersonic missile interceptor developed by Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. Unveiled in June 2023, it is designed to counter the ...

• Laser-directed energy weapons

  Megawatt-Scale LDEW (nLIGHT)

  nLIGHT's megawatt-scale laser weapon is currently under development as a part of the United States High Energy Laser Scaling Initiative (HELSI). The high-energy laser (HEL) has ...

• Air-to-surface missiles

  Mako

  Mako is an air-launched hypersonic missile developed by Lockheed Martin in collaboration with CoAspire. The missile was unveiled to the public for the first time ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  Sea Giraffe 4A Fixed Face (FF)

  The Sea Giraffe 4A FF (Fixed Face) is the fixed panel radar version of the Sea Giraffe 4A rotating radar. The system is produced by ...

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

  SM-6 Block IB

  The SM-6 Block IB is an advanced iteration of the Standard Missile series, designed to enhance US Navy missile defence capabilities. Slated to be operational ...

• Data links

  P1350

  P1350 are airborne-qualified IP data links that can operate at hypersonic speeds. Produced by BERTEN DSP, it provides ruggedised, low-SWaP tactical communications in electronic warfare environments. 

• Data links

  P4700

  The P4700 is an airborne-qualified IP data link produced by BERTEN. Suitable for hypersonic and high-attitude applications, it can be integrated into various platforms, including ...

• Data links

  P6000

  BERTEN P6000 are defence-grade IP data links that provide a light, compact, robust, and affordable solution for airborne, maritime, and ground communications.

• Surface-to-air missiles

  Aster 30 B1 NT

  The Aster 30 B1NT (Block 1 New Technology) is a surface-to-air missile developed by MBDA as the latest addition to the Aster missile family. With ...

• Surface-to-air missiles

  Medium-range Surface-to-Air Missile Block III (M-SAM III)

  The Surface-to-Air Missile Block III (M-SAM Block III) is an advanced iteration of South Korea's medium-range air defence system. It is designed to enhance interception ...

• UAS: Integrated systems - uncrewed

  NavStorm-M

  BAE Systems' NavStorm-M is a gun-hardened, integrated anti-jamming and Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver for artillery rounds, bombs, missiles, and uncrewed systems. It was revealed ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  SPY-6(V)4

  The SPY-6(V)4 Air and Missile Defence Radar is a surveillance radar manufactured by Raytheon. It is designed to defend against ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles, ...

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

  MD-22

  The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) unveiled the near-space hypersonic technology testbed MD-22 at the Zhuhai Airshow in 2022. Capable of speeds of Mach 7, the ...