• Defence Notes

  Research paper points to a Russian ‘ghost navy’ providing logistical support

  19th October 2023

  Russia has been using commercial vessels to move military equipment to avoid controls, according to a report from NATO Defense College and RUSI.

• Defence Helicopter

  US approves AH-64 Apache attack helicopters for Poland

  23rd August 2023

  Poland is poised to enhance its military might through acquiring AH-64 Apache attack helicopters from the US.

• Air Warfare

  MBDA's Enforcer missile system gears up for full-scale production for Germany

  31st October 2023

  As the Enforcer system awaits approval from the Bundeswehr, the full-rate production has been scheduled to commence before the end of 2023. MBDA has also been exploring various Enforcer variants including an air-launched version.

• Naval Warfare

  New Italian Navy uncrewed systems receive initial funding

  3rd November 2023

  The Italian Navy has been notable for its significant lack of investment in uncrewed systems and has no operational capabilities in this domain, but the recent three-year Defence Programmes document has initiated two new projects.

• Naval Warfare

  New and improved landing craft to boost amphibious ops for Dutch marines

  19th September 2023

  The Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) is embarking on the upgrade and replacement of its existing amphibious landing craft to provide new capabilities for long-range transport and marine assault.

• 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.

• Land Warfare

  Poland continues army expansion with trio of armoured vehicle contracts

  17th August 2023

  The Polish Ministry of Defence has approved three new contracts for army vehicle procurement and development, covering wheeled and tracked infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) and tactical 4x4s.

• Air Warfare

  India to strengthen China and Pakistan borders with final S-400 SAM system deliveries

  7th November 2023

  India's full acquisition of its S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems has been fast approaching its final stages, as officials from India and Russia prepare work on finalising the delivery schedule for the last two squadrons.

• Land Warfare

  US Army concludes LTAMDS contractor verification testing

  3rd October 2023

  Trials at the White Sands Missile Range assessed the design and performance of LTAMDS against real and simulated threats.

• Defence Helicopter

  Indonesia signs MoU for S-70M Black Hawks

  4th September 2023

  The Indonesian military has turned its sights on S-70M Black Hawk helicopters, with the service never having bought platforms from Sikorsky before.

• Naval Warfare

  India to speed up acquisition of further aircraft carrier

  28th September 2023

  India's first domestically built aircraft carrier was massively late by six years, but the country thinks it can do better with the next ship.

• Land Warfare

  DSEI 2023: BAE Systems readies new versions of Armored Multi Purpose Vehicle with European exports in mind

  13th September 2023

  BAE Systems is displaying the US Army's Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle at DSEI for the first time and is evolving new variants with an eye on the European M113 APC replacement market .

• 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

  Australia decides to expunge entire MRH90 helicopter fleet

  2nd October 2023

  Australia has decided to withdraw its MRH90 helicopter fleet, even though the aircraft had another 14 years of life left in them.

• Defence Notes

  DSEI 2023: Will UK defence be 'on pause' until the next general election?

  11th September 2023

  The 2023 edition of DSEI will be the last to be held during the current UK Parliament. With an election due within 16 months, is this the ‘end of term’ for the current government, and what are the prospects for the MoD and British defence more widely?

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - mini

  Action Plan of the Georgian Defence Force (FlyEye) [Georgia]

  Programme Background Action Plan of the Georgian Defence Forces 2020-30 In July 2021, the Georgian Minister of Defence, Juansher Burchuladze, outlined the country's military modernisation plan. ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Gryf [Poland]

  Background Requirements The Polish Ministry of Defence (MoD) identified the need for several ingeniously produced UAVs to provide ISTAR and strike capabilities for its armed forces ...

• Main battle tanks

  Wilk [Poland]

  Background The Wilk programme was included in the Polish MoDs Technical Modernisation Plan of the Polish Armed Forces for 2021-2035. It was primarily aimed at ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A (1-32) [Poland]

  Background Requirement In September 2019, the US State Department approved a possible FMS for up to 32 F-35A to Poland, which translated into a contract ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - mini

  Force Protection Drone Systems [Poland]

  Background Force Protection In November 2024, the Polish Defence Ministry's Armaments Agency signed a PLN 499 million (US$127.6 million) agreement with WB Group for 12 Force Protection drone ...

• Military UAS - mini

  FlyEye (Framework Agreement) (Uncontracted) [Poland]

  Background Pre-2023 contracts Across three orders, one in the early 2010s, another in December 2018 and another in February 2022, the Polish Territorial Defence Force ...

• Main battle tanks

  K2 Black Panther (Phase 1) [Poland]

  Background Requirement Poland's K2 purchase is the successor of the Wilk programme which aimed to replace the country's Soviet-era T-72 and PT-91 MBTs with a modern ...

• Frigates

  Miecznik (Swordfish) Programme (1-3) [Poland]

  Background Polish Armament Group is a consortium that was tasked with the development of the Miecnik class coastal defence vessels for the Polish Navy. Known ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Zefir (Uncontracted) [Poland]

  Programme Background Inception The Zefir programme required a MALE UCAV with an operating radius of up to 1000km. In 2018, Defence24 reported that Poland could ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  NBPWP Borsuk [Poland]

  Background Programme requirements One of the highest priority equipment procurement programmes for the Polish MoD is the procurement of a new, NATO-standard platform to replace ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Serwal Wheeled Armoured Vehicle [Poland]

  Background The existence of the Serwal programme was first revealed in May 2020, when the Secretary of State at the Polish MoD informed the Polish ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Zefir (Contracted) [Poland]

  Programme Background Inception The Zefir programme required a MALE UCAV with an operating radius of up to 1000km. In 2018, Defence24 reported that Poland could procure ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Bayraktar TB2 [Poland]

  Programme Background Requirement Under the Gryf programme, the Polish MoD identified the need for an indigenously produced MALE UAV to provide ISTAR and strike capabilities at ...

• Loitering munitions

  Gladius (2026) [Poland]

  Background 2022 Contract award In May 2022, Poland announced the signing of a PLN2 billion ($450 million) procurement contract for the supply of four Gladius batteries. ...

• Military UAS - mini

  FlyEye (Framework Agreement) (Contracted) [Poland]

  Background Pre-2023 contracts Across three orders, one in the early 2010s, another in December 2018 and another in February 2022, the Polish Territorial Defence Force ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - tactical

  PGZ-19R

  The PGZ-19R is a low-altitude, short-range tactical fixed-wing UAV. Based on the E-310 demonstrator, the platform has been designed to carry ISR sensors, search and rescue and ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  AW149

  The AgustaWestland 'AW149' is an 8t-class multirole battlefield helicopter developed by AgustaWestland (now Leonardo) launched in 2006, making its maiden voyage in 2009. For combat ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Krab

  Poland selected a modified version of the BAE Systems AS90M Braveheart 155mm/52cal turret to meet its requirement for a new SPH. Poland’s HSW is prime ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  BMP-1

  The BMP-1 (Bronevaya Maschina Piekhota-1) is a tracked amphibious IFV that was developed in the Soviet Union during the 1960s.  Entering service with the Soviet ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM, Naval: Radio and SATCOM

  R&S M3SR Series4400

  Rohde & Schwarz M3SR Series4400 is a VHF/UHF radio system designed for stationary and shipborne applications. It offers several proprietary frequency-hopping waveforms as well as data link ...

• EO/IR systems

  LRF Mod 4EC/6EC

  The Mod 4EC and Mod 6EC were designed specifically for remotely operated small platforms. The modules can be attached to Mini-Typhoon, CLAWS and other systems ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  SW-4

  The SW-4 is a light, single-engine, multi-mission helicopter designed to carry up to five people (pilots included) and to be operated during the day and ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  FA-50

  Based on the T/TA-50 trainer/light attack aircraft, the FA-50 is further developed and upgraded with a tactical data link, precision-guided munitions, and a self-protection subsystem. ...

• ISR/special mission, Maritime patrol

  A320neo M3A

  Currently under development by Airbus, the A320 M3A is the Maritime Patrol version of the civilian A320neo aircraft. The aircraft can be fitted with a wide ...

• Military UAS - mini

  FlyEye

  WB Group manufactures the FlyEye, a hand-launched mini-UAS designed to provide reconnaissance capabilities.  With a modular configuration and the ability to host multiple payloads, the Polish ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  AN/SQQ-89

  The AN/SQQ-89 is an ASW combat system incorporates and processes all the sonar information and LAMPS sensor data. Manufactured by Lockheed Martin, there are currently ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  R35010

  The Radmor R35010 personal role radio is a handheld, lightweight radio intended to operate in a small radio network between combat team members.  The R35010 ...

• Ship-launched torpedoes, Submarine-launched torpedoes

  Mk-48 Mod 6AT ADCAP

  The Mk-48 ADCAP (Advanced Capability) is the improved version of the Mk-48 family. Development started with the Mk-48 Mod 5 and continues to the present ...

• Land: RWS

  ZSSW-30

  The ZSSW-30 is an unmanned turret developed by a consortium of Huta Stalowa Wola (HSW) and WB Electronics. Armed with a 30mm cannon, 7.62mm coaxial machine ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  LTMPAV Dino 519

  The Dino 519 is a light tactical multi-purpose armored vehicle (LTMPAV) developed by Team Concept, a Poland-based armored vehicle manufacturer.