• Naval Warfare

  LIMA 2015: MSA makes its regional debut

  20th March 2015

  Boeing is ramping up its campaign for launch customers for its Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA) by bringing the aircraft to Asia for the first time …

• Military Logistics

  USN selects Gilbane for fuel services contract

  19th March 2015

  The US Navy has contracted Gilbane Federal and seven other firms for fuel services at various military installations. Under the Global Petroleum, Oil, and Lubricants (GPOL) contract announced …

• Military Logistics

  US Navy selects AMSEC for modernisation programme

  19th March 2015

  AMSEC, a Huntington Ingalls subsidiary, was awarded a contract by the US Navy to provide technical and engineering services in support of navy modernisation.   The contract …

• Naval Warfare

  LIMA 2015: Littoral Combat Ship programme only ‘slightly off track’

  19th March 2015

  Boustead Heavy Industries Corporation (BHIC), responsible for constructing the Royal Malaysian Navy’s (RMN’s) six 3,000t Second Generation Patrol Vessel - Littoral Combat Ships (SGPV-LCS), revealed …

• Defence Helicopter

  LIMA 2015: Airbus Helicopters enters simulation centre JV

  18th March 2015

  Airbus Helicopters Malaysia has signed a joint venture agreement for its Malaysia-based helicopter simulation centre with Boustead Heavy Industries Corporation (BHIC), the company announced on …

• Defence Notes

  LIMA 2015: UK looks to enhance regional position

  18th March 2015

  The UK is repositioning one of its secure communications satellites to cover the Eastern Pacific and will make spare capacity available to allies in the …

• Defence Notes

  LIMA 2015: Defence minister prioritises security operations in Sabah

  18th March 2015

  Speaking aboard the frigate KD Jebat on the eve of LIMA 2015, Malaysian defence minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein told Shephard, ‘I am concerned,’ …

• Naval Warfare

  Philippines to build three naval MPACs

  17th March 2015

  A total of three Multi-Purpose Assault Craft (MPACs) will be built for the Philippines Navy in the country, in accordance with the navy's approved technical …

• Defence Helicopter

  French NH90 Caiman attains initial combat capability

  17th March 2015

  The French Navy's NH90 Caiman anti-submarine warfare helicopter has achieved initial combat capability after being qualified to operate the MU90 lightweight torpedo, the navy announced …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Euro Hawk sensor nears test flight

  17th March 2015

  More details have emerged about the contract modification issued by the German defence ministry in January which re-started the stalled Euro Hawk programme.  The project, …

• Defence Helicopter

  Netherlands beefs up its Apaches

  17th March 2015

  The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) has developed a new set of modifications and operational techniques to turn its AH-64D Apaches into an ISTAR platform …

• Digital Battlespace

  Five US Navy E-2D Hawkeyes set for maiden deployment

  17th March 2015

  A total of five E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes have been assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, Northrop Grumman announced on 12 March. The five …

• Naval Warfare

  LIMA 2015: Fincanteri sizes up Aussie frigate programme amid Asia expansion

  17th March 2015

  Italian shipbuilder Fincanteri is eyeing up the SEA 5000 Future Frigate programme in Australia that will replace the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN’s) eight ANZAC-class frigates. …

• Naval Warfare

  LIMA 2015: Saab on standby for SEA 1000

  17th March 2015

  Although outside of Australia’s SEA 1000 submarine replacement programme, Saab Kockums is waiting to make a competitive bid. Gunilla Fransson, senior VP and head of …

• Military Logistics

  RAF C-17 joins Cyclone Pam relief effort

  16th March 2015

  A Royal Air Force C-17 transport aircraft has departed from RAF Brize Norton bound for Royal Australian Air Force base at Amberley in Australia as …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Loitering munitions

  Loitering Munition (Royal Navy) [UK]

  Background Persistent Operational Deployment Systems (PODS) As the Royal Navy stated in 2022, Persistent Operational Deployment Systems (PODS) are “interchangeable modules that can be fitted to ...

• Directed energy weapons

  Project Dragonfire [UK]

  Background The UK Government's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) has been working with MBDA, Leonardo and QinetiQ to develop a LASER Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW) called ...

• Military UAS - small

  T-150 (Royal Navy) [UK]

  Background Deployment On 7 April 2025, the Royal Navy announced that, for the first time, nine T-150 drones would be operated from the HMS Prince ...

• Land: air defence radar

  Lanza 3D Radar [Thailand]

  Background Thailand is procuring the LANZA 3D radar to strengthen surveillance and protection of Sattahip Naval Base. The radar will be deployed by the Royal ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Flexible Tactical Uncrewed Air System (FTUAS) [UK]

  Background Tender notice and timeline On 25 May 2021, the MoD published a tender notice for the urgent acquisition of a UAS and ancillaries under ...

• Military UAS - small

  Puma 3 AE (UK)

  Programme Background Testing The Royal Navy announced in October 2020 that the Puma was undergoing its first operational testing on HMS Albion's autumn deployment to ...

• Frigates

  Hamilton Class Cutter [Bahrain]

  Background Very little has been said about the transfer of an ex-Hamilton-class cutter to Bahrain, but it is one of the final two to leave ...

• Patrol boats

  Evolved Cape Class (1-6) [Australia]

  Programme Background Austal was awarded a contract to build six 'Evolved' Cape-class patrol boats for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) on 1 May 2020. The contract ...

• Patrol boats

  Evolved Cape Class (7-8) [Australia]

  Programme Background Austal was awarded a contract to build six 'Evolved'Cape-class patrol boats for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) on 1 May 2020 (see separate ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Boraida Class replacement [Saudi Arabia]

  Background Requirements The Royal Saudi Navy urges the replacement of three Boraida-class minehunters. Based on the Durance-class design, the ships entered service in the mid-1980s ...

• Minehunters

  Lat Ya Class Replacement Programme [Thailand]

  Programme Background Requirements The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) currently operates two Lat Ya-class minehunters, commissioned in the late 1990s. The units are based on the ...

• Frigates

  Air Defence Frigates Procurement [Denmark]

  Background Requirements After focusing on the procurement of new highly capable patrol ships and new Arctic frigates as a replacement for the Thetis-class, Shephard had initially estimated ...

• Frigates

  Karel Dorman Class (Chile)

  Programme Background  Chile currently operates two ex-Karel Doorman-class frigates which were sold in 2004. The Royal Netherlands Navy are in the process of replacing the ...

• Military UAS - small

  V-Bat [Netherlands]

  Background Contract award On 9 July 2025, Shield AI announced that the Netherlands MoD had acquired eight V-Bat aircraft, specifically the V-Bat 400, to enhance the maritime ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Multi-Role Support Ship (MRSS) (3) [Malaysia]

  Programme Background Requirements The Royal Malaysian Navy are in the process of a fleet transformation plan known as the 15 to 5 Transformation Plan, which ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Submarine-launched torpedoes

  Mk 48 Mod 7AT CBASS

  The MK 48 MOD 7 Common Broadband Advanced Sonar System (CBASS) is the latest variant of the Mk 48 torpedo family manufactured by Lockheed Martin and ...

• Military - UUVs

  XV Excalibur

  XV Excalibur is an Extra Large Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (XLUUV) built by UK-based MSubs, in conjunction with the Royal Navy. It is an experimental vessel ...

• Frigates

  Hunter Class (Type 26)

  The Hunter-class frigates for the Royal Australian Navy are based on the Type 26 design. The ships are set to replace the Anzac-class under the ...

• Sea: naval fire control radar

  Ceros 200

  The Ceros 200 is a radar and optronic tracking system designed for use on naval vessels. When interfaced with modern missile or gun systems, it ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  Royal Danish Navy MH-60R MOFT

  In January 2014, CAE was awarded an FMS contract by the USN to develop an MH-60R mission operational flight trainer (MOFT) for the Royal Danish ...

• Frigates

  Naresuan Class

  The Naresuan-class guided-missile frigates are a modified variant of the Chinese-built Type 053 frigate. The two ships-in-class were built by the China State Shipbuilding Corporation ...

• Destroyers

  River Class (Type 26)

  The Type 26 Anti-Submarine Warfare frigate has been designed for the UK Royal Navy, but with an emphasis on export. Both the Royal Canadian Navy ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar

  AN/SPY-7(V)1

  The AN/SPY-7(V)1 is a solid-state naval surveillance radar produced and manufactured by Lockheed Martin. The system is expected to be fully integrated into programmes for ...

• Frigates

  Jacob Van Heemskerck Class

  The Jacob van Heemskerck class frigates were ex-Royal Netherlands Navy frigates that also served under the Chilean Navy, also known as the Latorre-class. Two anti-aircraft warfare (AAW) ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Walrus

  The Walrus is a mini rotary-wing UAV manufactured by the Royal Navy's 700X Naval Air Squadron.  As stressed during the December 2022 announcement, Walrus has been ...

• Land: battlefield and ground surveillance radar

  RD-170BT

  The RD-170BT is a man-portable surveillance radar deployed ashore to protect moored patrol boats of the Royal Norwegian Navy. 

• Minehunters

  Sandown Class

  The Sandown class vessels are coastal minehunters and OPVs in service with the UK Royal Navy and Royal Saudi Naval Forces as the Al Jawf class. Additionally, ...

• Military - UUVs

  Mission Specialist Defender

  The Mission Specialist Defender is a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) developed by VideoRay, now part of BlueHalo's unmanned maritime systems. The ROV is known ...

• Frigates

  Type 22 (Batch 1)

  The Type 22 frigates were previously the Broadsword-class in service with the UK's Royal Navy. The vessels were built in three batches, with the first ...

• Sea: weapon training

  Inflatable Naval Gunnery Targets

  GeoData produces a range of Naval Gunnery Target Balloons (NavTGTs) for use by marine, navy, coast guard and army units to maintain target acquisition and ...