• Land Warfare

  Australian Army experiments with UGVs, but seeks understanding before proliferation

  26th December 2024

  The Australian Army is exploring the options and benefits of a wide range of UGVs.

• Naval Warfare

  UK warship HMS Cardiff begins float-off process

  30th August 2024

  The new Type 26 City-class frigate has been introduced to the water prior to further fitting.

• Land Warfare

  Large 10×10 vehicles go in search of a role

  2nd July 2025

  Wheeled vehicles ranging in size from 4×4 to 8×8 provide high-speed at a good level of mobility compared to tracked. However, tracked can be larger and have a higher level of mobility in marginal terrain with a smaller turning circle. What are the possibilities for a 10×10?

• Air Warfare

  Data Link Solutions awarded a deal worth up to $1 billion for tactical radio systems

  12th December 2024

  The deal announced on 11 December was an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) contract and the first task order of $116 million has already been awarded to provide terminals and spares, with follow-on production awards expected.

• Land Warfare

  Sweden to receive production Archer howitzers next year with capability expected in 2030

  11th March 2025

  When compared to some other wheeled artillery systems Archer has the advantage of quicker deployment and relocation as the complete fire mission is carried out without the crew leaving the protected cab at the front.

• Air Warfare

  Indonesia commits to further collaboration with Turkey, eyes Kaan jet and MILDEN programmes

  14th April 2025

  The two countries have already signed defence industrial partnerships in recent years, most recently between Republikorp and Turkish firm Baykar in February 2025.

• Land Warfare

  Troubled British Army Ajax vehicle progresses with capability set for this year

  27th January 2025

  The Ajax armed reconnaissance vehicle (ARV) and joint fires observer vehicle (FOV) will soon enter operational use with the British Army after many years of delay.

• Naval Warfare

  Keel laid for Royal Navy’s next-generation nuclear submarine

  25th March 2025

  HMS Dreadnought will be the first of the four Dreadnought class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) scheduled to enter service in the early 2030s. Following its keel-laying ceremony last week, Shephard takes a deeper dive into the class which will eventually replace the Royal Navy's long-standing Vanguard class of boats.

• Land Warfare

  Saab to supply Giraffe radars to US Air Force in Europe

  9th December 2024

  Saab began development of the radar in 2012. Production started in 2014 and Sweden ordered systems in 2020 for SEK2.1 billion as part of a five-year deal.

• Defence Notes

  US companies invest in production capabilities to satisfy DoD’s hunger for cutting-edge capabilities

  18th October 2024

  BAE Systems, Booz Allen Hamilton and Lockheed Martin have been betting on new facilities and innovative manufacturing technologies to speed up the development of new solutions.

• Naval Warfare

  Latest Virginia-class submarine, USS Iowa, commissioned

  8th April 2025

  SSN-797 was commissioned as USS Iowa, the first Virginia-class submarine of the second Trump administration. It was described as “just the beginning” of a revitalisation of US naval shipbuilding by Secretary of the Navy John Phelan.

• Land Warfare

  BAE Systems unveils new large combat UGV

  11th September 2024

  The Autonomous Tactical Light Armour System (ATLAS) 8x8 UGV has been displayed at Australia’s Land Forces 2024 International Land Defence Exposition in Melbourne.

• Naval Warfare

  South Korean Destroyer fleet approved for US improvement programme

  19th December 2024

  The US State Department has agreed to sell South Korea technology to keep its Destroyer fleet effective as a deterrent.

• Defence Notes

  New UK-EU defence pact misses concrete details despite ambitious “first step”

  20th May 2025

  Given the geopolitical gravity, analysts have said the defence and security agreement established falls short of what is needed for future UK-EU co-operation.

• Land Warfare

  Manufacture of CTAI 40mm cannon prepares to ramp up with 700 already delivered

  29th January 2025

  Production of 40 CTAS cannon for 60 Belgian Jaguar 6x6 will begin this year and Luxembourg is set to make a similar order.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  ACV-30 PRTV (USA)

  Programme Background The Armoured Combat Vehicle (ACV) programme is intended to provide a replacement for the USMC's fleet of Amphibious Assault Vehicle 7 (AAV7) tracked ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  BvS10 [Sweden]

  Programme Background The FMV announced that it had signed a contract with BAE Systems Hägglunds for 127 BvS10 MkIIBs in May 2021. These will fulfil ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  ACV (US - USMC)

  Programme Background The Armored Combat Vehicle (ACV) programme is intended to provide a replacement for the USMC's fleet of Amphibious Assault Vehicle 7 (AAV7) tracked ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  ACV - Additional Order 1 (US - USMC)

  Programme Background The Armoured Combat Vehicle (ACV) programme is intended to provide a replacement for the USMC's fleet of Amphibious Assault Vehicle 7 (AAV7) tracked ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  Hawk Mk 165 Advanced Jet Trainer- Saudi Arabia

  The fleet will be used to train Saudi pilots before they transition to the Eurofighter Typhoon and F-15 in service with RSAF.  Under the Saudi-British Defence Cooperation Programme, ...

• OPVs

  River Class Batch 2

  Programme Background BAE Systems developed an improved version at the River class Batch 1 ships (which first entered service in 2003), to be dubbed the ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  ACV - Additional Order 2 (US - USMC)

  Programme Background The Armoured Combat Vehicle (ACV) programme is intended to provide a replacement for the USMC's fleet of Amphibious Assault Vehicle 7 (AAV7) tracked ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  ACV - Additional Order 3 (US - USMC)

  Programme Background The Armoured Combat Vehicle (ACV) programme is intended to provide a replacement for the USMC's fleet of Amphibious Assault Vehicle 7 (AAV7) tracked ...

• ISR/special mission

  Airborne Electonic Attack (1-2) [Italy]

  Programme Background The acquisition effort involves a Direct Commercial Sale (DCS) for the procurement and installation of modifications and a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  CV90 [Czech Republic]

  Programme Background The Czech Republic has been working on modernising its mechanised units at least since 2017, when the country launched its "Tracked IFV" programme ...

• Submarines: nuclear, attack

  Astute Class (1-7) [UK]

  Programme Background The Astute-class nuclear attack submarines (SSN) are the replacement for the UK Royal Navy's Swiftsure and Trafalgar classes of SSNs. The initial contract ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  AAV7A1 RAM/RS (Japan - 2nd Batch)

  Programme Background The Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF) has procured the AAV7A1 RAM/RS to equip its Amphibious Assault Brigade formed in 2018. Tasked with ...

• Tanks

  M10 Booker [US]

  Programme Background Inception & NGCV The US Army launched the MPF programme in 2015 when it unveiled its Combat Vehicle Modernization Strategy. This new platform will ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) [Japan]

  Programme Background Shephard notes that GCAP's Japanese, British and Italian components are tracked in separate entries. Programme Timeline 2020: The Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency of Japan issued ...

• Transport

  Command Support Air Transport Recapitalisation (UK)

  Programme Background The tender, originally released on 28 October 2021, requires industry bidders to put forward aircraft that can achieve a minimum unrefuelled range of ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Integrated cockpit systems

  BAE Systems Avionics

  The avionics suite developed by BAE Systems, USA, is specifically designed for aircraft operating in harsh environments. The integrated suite includes caution and warning systems, ...

• Transport

  BAe 146M/Avro RJM

  BAE Systems is offering previously owned BAE 146 and Avro RJ aircraft to air forces operating ageing turboprop and jet airliners for transport and communications ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  STRIX

  The STRIX is a prototype tandem-wing UAV that BAE Systems Australia is developing in collaboration with Innovaero. It is slated to begin operational service in 2026 and can be ...

• Tanks

  MPF Prototype

  In 1992, the US Army selected the M8 to meet its requirement for an air-transportable Armored Gun System, but the programme was cancelled for budgetary ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  T-650

  Debuted at DSEI 2021, the T-650, or T650, is a multi-role quadcopter UAS manufactured by BAE Systems in collaboration with Malloy Aeronautics.  The electric-powered platform produces ...

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

  HAPS / PHASA-35

  The High Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS) is a solar-electric Persistent High Altitude Solar Aircraft (PHASA-35).  Produced by BAE Systems and Prismatic, the platform is designed to provide a persistent, ...

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

  T-80

  The T-80, or TRV-80, is a rotary-wing cargo-carrying UAV from Malloy Aeronautics. It is mainly branded as a UAV that allows users to test and evaluate ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  UAS Concept 2 / Autonomous Collaborative Platform (ACP)

  In July 2022, BAE Systems revealed two UAV concepts, one later being branded Concept 2, or the Autonomous Collaborative Platform (ACP), at DSEI 2023.  Signage near ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  F-35 Training System

  BAE Systems is involved in F-35 Lightning II Training System design and sustainment, working with prime contractor Lockheed Martin. BAE Systems leads the instructional systems ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - MLDS, Air: Defensive Systems - Laser Warning Receivers

  LIMWS

  BAE Systems is leading the US Army’s Limited Interim Missile Warning System (LIMWS) initiative. This is intended to enhance the missile protection provided to US ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  UAS Concept 1

  In July 2022, BAE Systems revealed two UAV concepts. The UAS Concept 1 is described as a small, versatile aircraft designed to augment existing forces ...

• Land: air defence radar

  Celldar

  BAE Systems and Roke have developed the Celldar passive radar which detects disturbances to civilian Global System for Mobile Communications digital cellphone networks operating in ...

• Naval guns

  Bofors 40 mk4

  Bofors 40 Mk4 is a naval gun system developed and produced by BAE Systems. It was originally produced by Swedish Bofors, which was acquired by ...

• Air: maintenance simulators

  Engineering and Maintenance Training

  BAE Systems designs and delivers engineering and maintenance training, with the ability to provide a package to address the needs of all personnel ranging from ...

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  Fast Interceptor Craft

  The Fast Interceptor Craft (FIC) is a high-speed insertion craft developed and built by VT Halmatic, now part of BAE Systems Maritime. According to BAE ...