• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Watching over the water

  11th October 2016

  The Royal Navy’s Unmanned Warrior event is already in full swing and Thales has demonstrated the Watchkeeper UAV in a maritime environment for the first …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  UK MoD, ASV sign licencing deal

  30th September 2016

  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) and ASV Global have entered into a licencing agreement under which the company will use its Advanced Unmanned Surface …

• Land Warfare

  Analysis: UK to issue MRV-P bid invites

  21st September 2016

  The UK MoD will publish an invitation to negotiate (ITN) for its Multi-Role Vehicle Protected (MRV-P) programme in the final quarter of 2016, industry sources …

• Land Warfare

  AAD 2016: Anti-RPG protection for Puma

  15th September 2016

  A partnership between AmSafe Bridport and OTT Technologies was announced at the AAD 2016 exhibition on 14 September. The arrangements means that AmSafe’s lightweight Tarian …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  UK MoD confirms third Zephyr

  17th August 2016

  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed it will purchase a third Zephyr high altitude pseudo satellite (HAPS) as part of a £13 million …

• Land Warfare

  Analysis: Challenger 2 - the bids are in

  16th August 2016

  Given the lack of armoured vehicle manufacturing capability in the UK, domestic contenders for the Life Extension Project (LEP) for the British Challenger 2 MBT are being …

• Land Warfare

  Rheinmetall enters the ring for UK tank upgrade

  11th August 2016

  As the deadline looms Rheinmetall has finally submitted a proposal for the UK Challenger 2 main battle tank Life Extension Project (LEP). The company said …

• Land Warfare

  Lockheed challenges for British tank

  10th August 2016

  Lockheed Martin UK has announced it is bidding for the UK’s Challenger 2 main battle tank Life Extension Programme (CLEP). The company will work in …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  UGVs team in Didcot demolition

  22nd July 2016

  Irish company Reamda saw its Reacher UGV complete its first official mission in assisting to bring down the remains of Didcot power station’s boiler house, …

• Land Warfare

  Terrex eyes up MIV

  22nd July 2016

  Singapore Technologies Kinetics (STK) is considering making a bid for the UK’s future Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV) programme. A spokesperson from the company told Shephard …

• Naval Warfare

  CXO300 engine trials continue

  20th July 2016

  The Cox Powertrain CXO300 outboard engine, potentially destined for the Royal Navy (RN), is still undergoing trials ahead of a future launch and full production …

• Defence Helicopter

  Farnborough 2016: Brimstone in for a firing shot with UK

  15th July 2016

  MBDA’s Brimstone missile has undergone successful firing tests from the AH-64E, heightening the weapon's potential appeal to the British Army for future capability plans. It was …

• Defence Notes

  Farnborough 2016: Industry continues to fleece UK MoD

  15th July 2016

  UK defence companies that continue to charge the Ministry of Defence (MoD) unnecessarily for goods or services will be ‘named and shamed’ in a January …

• Training

  Farnborough 2016: Inzpire and Thales sign AMTS MoU

  14th July 2016

  Thales has a long pedigree of developing Air Mission Training Systems (AMTS). The company’s first major success was with the EDITH system for the French …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Farnborough 2016: FCAS to define mission profile

  12th July 2016

  As the expected two-year Feasibility Phase of the joint UK-France FCAS programme draws to a close, 2017 will see further progress made by BAE Systems …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - small

  AR3 (Ukraine Aid) [UK]

  Background £270 Million investment On 15 September 2025, the UK MoD noted that, since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the UK ...

• Military UAS - mini

  30,000 FPV Drones (Ukraine Aid) [UK]

  Programme Background IDCC On 9 January 2025, the UK MoD announced that 30,000 FPV drones would be sent to Ukraine after the awarding of £45 million ...

• Loitering munitions

  Nyan OWE [UK]

  Background Transparency notice On 13 February 2026, the UK MoD published a transparency notice concerning OWE Nyan, specifically, the procurement of OWE drones for operational ...

• Loitering munitions

  Dart 250 [UK]

  Background Purchase In 2023, the UK MoD tasked Modini with supplying Ukraine with drones, with the first Dart units reportedly delivered in autumn 2023. On ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Tactical Multirotor ISR UAV (Ukraine Aid) [UK]

  Programme Background Invitation To Tender (ITT) On 17 February 2025, the UK MoD released an Invitation to Tender (ITT) seeking Tactical Multirotor ISR UAVs. The effort is valued ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A400M [UK]

  Background RAF base at Brize Norton built a new training facility for A400M pilots and crew. The aircraft will look to reach full operation capability by 2022 ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Multi-Role Vehicle (Protected) (MRV-P) Package 1 (UK)

  Programme Background Requirement The MRV-P programme was intended to procure replacements for a diverse fleet of 4x4 and 6x6 vehicles purchased during the wars in Iraq ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  New Medium Helicopter (NMH) [UK]

  Background NMH Market Interest Day On 11 November 2021, the MoD communicated the requirements of the £1 billion ($1.34 billion) New Medium Helicopter (NMH) programme ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  AR5 [Portugal]

  Methodology PGO The PGO has been set to 100% because the programme has been contracted, with deliveries due very shortly. Units required No details were ...

• Loitering munitions

  FPV & Attack Drones (Ukraine Aid) [UK & Norway]

  Background £450 million On 11 April 2025, the UK MoD announced a £450 million package for Ukraine, which included £350 million from the UK from this ...

• Loitering munitions

  Long Range Area Effect Project: Air Launched Effect (ALE) [UK]

  Background Acquisition pipeline First published on 13 June 2022, the Acquisition Pipeline was a forward-looking view of potential procurement activity undertaken by the UK MoD.  ALE ...

• Military UAS - mini

  ISR Drones (First Batch) (Ukraine Aid) [Netherlands]

  Programme Background First Batch On 20 March 2024, Kajsa Ollongren, Minister of Defence of the Netherlands, announced that, following a 19 March Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) meeting, ...

• Transport

  Command Support Air Transport Recapitalisation [UK]

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

• Loitering munitions

  Altius 600M & Altius 700M (Ukraine Aid) [UK]

  Programme Background Anduril On 6 March 2025, the UK MoD and John Healey, the Secretary of State for Defence, announced a package to help counter Russia's aggression against ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance (MROS) Ship [UK]

  Background Requirements The 2021 Defence Command Paper, Defence in a competitive age, outlined the plan to develop a new Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance (MROS) vessel to ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Light UGVs

  T7

  The T7 is a multi-mission robotic system designed for military, police and hazardous missions. At DSEI 2017, the UK MoD awarded the Harris Corporation a ...

• Major networking projects

  Skynet 5 SATCOM

  Airbus is the service provider for the UK MoD Skynet 5 private finance initiative contract, signed in October 2003 and now worth $5.6 billion. Airbus ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Warthog

  The Warthog is based on the ST Kinetics Bronco all terrain tracked carrier (ATTC) and was developed to meet a UK MoD urgent operational requirement ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Buster

  The Buster is a small UAS that is designed for carrying out close-range surveillance in all weather conditions. It can carry several different payloads and ...

• Data links

  NMS

  The Network Management System (NMS) provides the ability to monitor and manage tactical data links (Link 11A, Link 11B, MIDS/JTIDS Link 16 and legacy links) ...

• Land: vehicle surveillance/target acquisition systems

  DNGS-T3

  DNGS-T3 is a single or dual-axis stabilised Day/Night Gunner Sight. It entered service with the UK MoD in 2004 on tracked AFVs. There are more ...

• Directed energy weapons

  DragonFire

  DragonFire is a laser weapon system built for the UK MoD and manufactured by a consortium of manufacturers. The primary manufacturer is MBDA, though they ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  AW159 Wildcat

  The AW159 is a twin-engine, multirole maritime and utility aircraft that was developed as a replacement for the Lynx family of helicopters. Designated 'Wildcat' by ...

• Trucks and utility vehicles - 6x6, Trucks and utility vehicles - 8x8

  SLDT(P)

  Following the success of the Trakker 6x6 in the engineer support role, the UK MoD identified a UOR for a fleet of protected self-loading dump ...

• Major networking projects

  ARRC C2IS

  In August 2006, the UK MoD appointed Thales as prime contractor for the delivery of the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC) – Command Control and ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  TTF

  BAE Systems manages the Typhoon Training Facility (TTF) for the UK MoD at RAF Coningsby, England. The facility supports the operational conversion unit and squadron ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  SA-200

  Manufactured by Syos Aerospace, the SA-200, or SA200, is a rotary-wing tactical drone. Marketed as a utilitarian drone, its primary purpose is as a cargo-carrying platform with ...

• EO/IR systems

  NightHawk2-UZ

  The NightHawk2-UZ is a dual EO-IR stabilised camera turret from NextVision designed for long-range observation applications that demand low weight. The 350g sensor's IR camera has a 1280x720p ...

• Medium UGVs

  MACE 3 Sherpa

  Based on the in-service 4x4 off-road Land Rover Defender platform, the MIRA MACE 3 Sherpa provides dismounted close combat infantry with logistical support, allowing soldiers ...

• Land: range systems and targets

  Inflatable Targets

  Airborne Industries has produced Inflatable Targets for use by the UK MoD for many years and supports and replenishes the systems in service. The targets ...