• Defence Notes

  Global defence spending hits record highs amid threats from Russia and beyond

  14th February 2024

  With the possibility of having to confront challenges without substantial US support looming, European nations have been compelled to reassess their defence strategies and prioritise investments to ensure collective security and resilience.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Milrem to supply large armed UGVs under a $200 million deal with the UAE

  24th January 2024

  Milrem's Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System (THeMIS) hybrid UGV features a modular design and open architecture which allows it to be reconfigured to serve as a transportation, weapons, reconnaissance or IED detection platform.

• Naval Warfare

  BAE Systems to upgrade Mk 45 control systems on Anzac-class frigates

  9th January 2024

  BAE Systems has been refreshing the Mk 45 guns on the Royal Australian Navy’s Anzac-class frigates for more than a decade and a new contract will take it to Mod 4 standard.

• Land Warfare

  ST Engineering goes big on hybrid at Singapore Airshow with Terrex s5 and new 4x4 MRAP

  21st February 2024

  The company’s development effort in hybrid electric drive technology has yielded two new products which have been on display at Singapore Airshow 2024.

• Land Warfare

  Northrop completes Sentinel ICBM chamber tests

  17th January 2024

  As the land element of the US nuclear triad, Sentinel will include a fully integrated launch, flight and infrastructure system with modern C2 features. It is designed to operate into the 2070s as a replacement for the LGM-30 Minuteman III intercontinental nuclear ballistic missile.

• Land Warfare

  Hypersonic threats force Pentagon to modernise its missile defence architecture

  20th December 2023

  The US DoD has been updating policies, enhancing partnerships with allies and acquiring new sensors and systems.

• Naval Warfare

  US and UK forces intensify strikes against Houthi capabilities

  23rd January 2024

  On 22 January, the coalition targeted eight areas controlled by the non-state military group in Yemen.

• Land Warfare

  Recent deliveries point to resurgent Russian defence industry

  19th January 2024

  The Russian defence industry has produced and delivered new and improved weapons systems to support the war effort in Ukraine, including the 2S35 Koalitsiya howitzer, the Gibka-S air defence system and the modernised T-80BVM tank, according to reports coming out of the country.

• Land Warfare

  Rheinmetall to upgrade Romanian air defence artillery systems

  2nd January 2024

  Romania is one of several countries near Ukraine and Russia which have recently signed contracts for improved air defence equipment alongside Austria, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

• Land Warfare

  BAE Systems receives $50 million to restart M777 production

  5th January 2024

  The M777 155mm lightweight howitzer has seen service across five continents and has been heavily used in Ukraine where weapons were donated by Australia, Canada and the US.

• Land Warfare

  Lockheed Martin awarded contract to support rocket system manufacture in Australia

  16th January 2024

  Australia received approval from the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) in 2023 to buy 60 M30A1 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) Alternative Warhead (AW) pods and 40 M31A1 GMLRS Unitary (GMLRS-U) high-explosive (HE) pods.

• Land Warfare

  Italy to buy more Flyer vehicles and air defence systems

  30th January 2024

  The Flyer 72 Advanced Light Strike Vehicle was developed by General Dynamics in partnership with Flyer Defense to meet a US Special Operations Command's requirement. Nine of the vehicles have already been in Italian service and Israel has 70 on order.

• Land Warfare

  Production qualification flight test completed for Precision Strike Missile from HIMARS launcher

  16th November 2023

  Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), the US Army’s next-generation, long-range precision strike missile, can destroying targets out to more than 400km.

• Land Warfare

  Elbit Systems to supply USMC with NVGs under $500 million deal

  28th November 2023

  Elbit Systems of America has secured a second five-year contract to supply Squad Binocular Night Vision Goggles (SBNVG) to the US Marine Corps.

• Land Warfare

  Lithuania receives JLTVs and towed mortars, orders optical sights and radars

  3rd January 2024

  Lithuania has invested heavily in new equipment for air defence and its ground forces including recently signing an agreement with Sweden for short-range air-defence systems, additional NASAMS medium-range air defence systems and additional Saab RBS 70 air defence missiles.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Loitering munitions

  Organic Precision Fire - Medium (OPF-M) [USMC]

  Background Request for Waiver (RFW) In April 2026, the USMC announced a new programme, the Organic Precision Fire - Medium (OPF-M), to equip the Fleet ...

• Long Range Missile Defence Systems: > 90km range

  Long Range Air Defence [Belgium]

  Background In its Strategic Vision Defence 2025 Capability Investment Portfolio (CIP) document, Belgium announced that it has budgeted €1,981,590,000 ($2,287,101,638) for three long-range air defence systems. A decision is ...

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

  Scorpio 500 [US]

  Background Contract Award In December 2024, XTEND was awarded a US$8.8 million contract by the US Department of Defense (DoD) for its Scorpio 500. As reported by ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Mobile Tactical Cannon [USA]

  Background The US Army began using the M777 in 1995. Since then, it has served as a field artillery piece providing fire support for American ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  T-50 [Thailand]

  The purchase had been earlier approved by the Thai cabinet on 11 July 2017.  AVM Pongsak Semachai revealed that the aircraft would be paid for ...

• Loitering munitions

  Organic Precision Fire - Light (OPF-L) (Uncontracted) [USMC]

  Background Force Design 2030 The USMC Force Design 2030 is a modernisation effort to create a lighter, more agile maritime force. In May 2022, an annual update ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Cobra IFV [Indonesia]

  Programme Background It is unclear how many different variants of the Cobra have been ordered by the TNI-AD, but it is thought that the majority ...

• Loitering munitions

  Echelon 2: Ground Organic Precision Strike Systems (GOPSS) [USSOCOM]

  Programme Background Requirements The U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has made loitering capabilities a priority in its efforts to support counter-violent extremist organization (C-VEO) operations and ...

• Self-propelled mortars

  Project Stokes [UK]

  Background The British Army does not currently operate any self-propelled mortars. The war in Ukraine has demonstrated that static fire support platforms are increasingly vulnerable ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Piranha V [Denmark]

  Programme Background In February 2013, the Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organization (DALO) selected the Piranha V as one of five contenders for evaluation to ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  T-50 Follow-On [Thailand]

  Programme Background The Royal Thai Air Force  (RTAF) exercised its option to purchase additional two aircraft from an earlier deal. The RTAF purchased four T-50 jets in ...

• Loitering munitions

  Loitering Munition 1 [Taiwan]

  Programme Background 2023 At Taichung in March 2023, NCSIST unveiled the loitering munition. The munition showed the country's focus on asymmetric capabilities to defend itself ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Land 400 Phase 2 - Boxer CRV [Australia]

  Programme Background History The Land 400 Phase 2 programme will procure a replacement for the ASLAV, a derivative of the General Dynamics Land Systems Light Armoured Vehicle ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Cobra IFV [Indonesia - Batch 2]

  Programme Background It is unclear how many different variants of the Cobra have been ordered by the TNI-AD, but it is thought that the majority ...

• Loitering munitions

  Maritime Launched Effects (MLE) [US]

  Background Origin The loitering munition effort dates back to at least 2018 and was previously called Maritime Precision Engagement (MPE). The US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Self-propelled rocket launchers

  PULS

  The PULS (Precise & Universal Launching System) from Elbit Systems is a modular, truck‑mounted multiple‑launch rocket/missile system developed in Israel to provide flexible long‑range fires ...

• Artillery rockets

  Predator Hawk

  The Predator Hawk artillery rocket, developed by Elbit Systems, is a high-precision, long-range weapon designed to engage targets at distances up to 300km. 

• Land: Defensive Systems - Gunshot Detection / Hostile Fire Indicator

  SWAD

  Small Arms Fire Warning and Direction System (SWAD) is a passive, stationary EO gunshot detection and hostile fire indicator manufactured by Elbit Systems. It is ...

• Land: COMINT and ELINT systems

  SkyFix DF

  The SkyFix DF is a lightweight, high-precision COMINT/DF system covering the 30MHz-3GHz frequency band. It uses a correlative interferometer technique and wide aperture, high-precision antenna ...

• Guided munitions

  Mini Lizard

  The Mini Lizard is a compact, precision-guided munition developed by Elbit Systems, tailored for light attack aircraft. Weighing approximately 9kg, the Mini Lizard is designed to ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  Thor

  Thor is a VTOL small-UAV manufactured by Elbit Systems. The platform is designed for ISR missions and features a real-time HD data link and unique ...

• Major networking projects

  ELBIT TIGER

  Tactical Intranet Geographic Dissemination in Real Time (TIGER) is a tactical communications system that integrates media, including legacy and narrowband channels, creating an end-to-end, unified ...

• Land: RWS

  Elbit UT50

  Announced in FQ4 2022, the Elbit UT50 is Elbit Systems of America's latest RWS mounted with a 50mm XM913 cannon. Elbit's development of a 50mm variant ...

• EO/IR systems, Sea: ship surveillance and fire control systems

  MSP 500

  The MSP 500 (Multi-Sensor Platform) is an electro-optical fire control and reconnaissance system developed by STN Atlas Elektronik and Zeiss Optronik and produced by Rheinmetall Defence ...

• Guided munitions

  Excalibur N5

  The Excalibur N5 is a 5-inch (127mm) naval variant of the Excalibur precision-guided artillery projectile, engineered to enhance the capabilities of naval gunfire. Designed for ...

• Towed guns

  ATHOS 2052

  The 155mm/52 calibre Autonomous Towed Howitzer Ordnance System (ATHOS) 2052 is a towed system offered by Elbit Systems, which acquired artillery manufacturer Soltam in 2010.Equipped ...

• Land: battle management systems

  Torch-X Mounted

  Elbit Systems Torch-X Mounted is a battle management solution that notably includes fire control capability and AI-powered decision support tools. According to news sources, the ...

• Light tanks

  ASCOD MMBT

  GDELS unveiled the ASCOD Medium Main Battle Tank (MMBT), a 120mm-armed 42 tonne tank based on its tracked ASCOD IFV, at Eurosatory 2018.  The ASCOD MMBT ...

• Self-propelled guns

  ATMOS

  Unveiled in 1999, the Autonomous Truck Mounted Howitzer System (ATMOS) was developed by Soltam Systems (now Elbit Systems) as a private venture to meet the ...

• Land: vehicle simulators

  AGTS

  The Advanced Gunnery Training System (AGTS) is designed to train individuals, crews and platoons in the skills of precision gunnery. It provides training on procedures, ...