• Air Warfare

  Ireland signs $93 million deal for new utility helicopters

  30th December 2024

  Ireland is replacing its ageing EC135 aircraft but is boosting the capability provided with the addition of new sensors which is planned to even provide a light attack role.

• Naval Warfare

  New Netherlands combat support ship Den Helder starts sea trials

  26th November 2024

  The vessel is expected to provide a significant additional capacity in the fight against drug trafficking and other police actions.

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy confirms MQ-25 Stingray first flight tests for this year

  2nd September 2025

  The system will be the world’s first operational, carrier-based unmanned aircraft, according to the US Navy.

• Naval Warfare

  Anduril Australia wins A$1.7 billion Ghost Shark XL-AUV contract

  10th September 2025

  The vessels are expected to deliver a major boost to Australia’s undersea warfare capabilities, with production set to start immediately.

• Land Warfare

  Hungary’s Gamma Technical expands vehicle range

  3rd July 2025

  The company’s new variants of 4×6 and 6×6 vehicles are designed to be modular for a greater variety of missions and also flexibility at a subsystem level, for example transmission and engine.

• Defence Notes

  US forces’ heads lay out their needs and requirements before Senate committees

  22nd May 2025

  The new US administration has introduced or outlined plans for substantial change across the Department of Defence (DoD) and its branches. Several branch heads faced up to Senate Committees to outline needs and challenges.

• Air Warfare

  Italy boosts UAV fleet with Jump-20 procurement and ScanEagle additions

  22nd April 2025

  The Jump-20 uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) procurement will replace Italy’s RQ-7 Shadow UAS fleet.

• Defence Notes

  Top-level commitments but no meat in UK Defence Industrial Strategy’s Statement of Intent

  3rd December 2024

  The initial document focused more on creating the right partnerships and inspiring investment in defence than on any details of how future UK Armed Forces would be armed.

• Defence Notes

  Is the US magazine of air defence interceptors deep enough to sustain a long campaign against Iran?

  4th March 2026

  The Pentagon spent a considerable number of THAAD and SM-3 rounds to defend against Iranian missiles in 2025 and has not fully replenished its reserves.

• Air Warfare

  UVision declares a “first” with helicopter-launched loitering munition to be displayed at Paris Air Show

  6th June 2025

  UVision’s HERO loitering munition family is widely used. As an air-launched loitering munition, however, it is a new concept which could meet a specific declared need of the US Marine Corps.

• Air Warfare

  Poland confirms US$3.8 billion F-16V upgrade

  14th August 2025

  The Mid-Life Upgrade agreement comes as Poland makes significant increases in its defence spend as its plans to increase it to 5% of GDP by 2026.

• Air Warfare

  France’s Joint Light Helicopter programme advances with H160M flight tests

  28th July 2025

  With three prototypes being built, the H160M is a militarised version of the H160. Once tests conclude, it will be delivered to the French armed forces from late 2028.

• Air Warfare

  Airbus outlines Logistics Connector plan and partners with L3Harris

  21st May 2025

  Airbus says it will aim to have a working prototype of the MQ-72C Logistics Connector by the end of the decade as it bids for a contract with the US Marine Corps.

• Air Warfare

  Avalon 2025: BAE Systems eyes customers for its Strix after initial flight

  31st March 2025

  The Strix test effort suffered a setback last year when the prototype incurred minor damage in a hard landing during its second trial flight.

• Land Warfare

  CV90 revels in northern exposure while looking for new customers (updated April 2025)

  25th April 2025

  The BAE Systems Hägglunds’ CV90 IFV has been around for decades but continual refreshing to maintain power and relevance, along with a healthy market at home in Sweden and neighbouring countries, has led to more than 1,700 vehicle orders with 10 countries.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Minehunters

  Kormoran II Class MCM (4-6) [Poland]

  Programme Background Timeline As of March 2022, the Kormoran II-class consists of six minehunters for the Polish Navy. However, as of June 2022, only one vessel has been ...

• Frigates

  MKS 180 Programme (5-6) [Germany]

  Programme Background Requirements The MKS 180 frigate programme for the Federal German Navy reflects the desire for the German government to become more engaged on ...

• OPVs

  Viana do Castelo-class (Batch II - NPO3S) (5-10) [Portugal]

  Programme Background Requirements The Viana do Castelo class offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) are used for maritime patrol and surveillance, fisheries protection, SAR, anti-drug and anti-arms trafficking, illegal ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | C295 MPAs [India]

  In February 2024, India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to purchase 15 maritime patrol aircraft for about $3.5 billion. The Indian ...

• Data links

  Data links | C295 MPAs [India]

  In February 2024, India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to purchase 15 maritime patrol aircraft for about $3.5 billion. The Indian ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | C295 MPAs [India]

  In February 2024, India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to purchase 15 maritime patrol aircraft for about $3.5 billion. The Indian ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | C295 MPAs [India]

  In February 2024, India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to purchase 15 maritime patrol aircraft for about $3.5 billion. The Indian ...

• Maritime patrol

  C295 MPAs [India]

  Programme Background In February 2024, India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) to purchase 15 maritime patrol aircraft for about $3.5 ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Multirole Underwater Seabed Surveillance Ship (MU3S) [Italy]

  In June 2024, during a presentation provided at the NATO Maritime Security Centre of Excellence (MARSEC COE), the Italian Navy detailed the new capabilities it ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Multirole Underwater Seabed Surveillance Ship (MU3S) [Italy]

  In June 2024, during a presentation provided at the NATO Maritime Security Centre of Excellence (MARSEC COE), the Italian Navy detailed the new capabilities it ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | Future Vertical Lift Maritime Strike (FVL-MS) [USA]

  The Future Vertical Lift Maritime Strike (FVL-MS) programme seeks to develop and acquire a family of systems, including crewed and uncrewed aircraft, to replace rotary life aircraft ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | Future Vertical Lift Maritime Strike (FVL-MS) [USA]

  The Future Vertical Lift Maritime Strike (FVL-MS) programme seeks to develop and acquire a family of systems, including crewed and uncrewed aircraft, to replace rotary life aircraft ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  MH-60R Seahawk (Saudi Arabia)

  The sale is aimed at improving Saudi Arabia’s capability to meet current and future threats from enemy weapon systems, provide the capability to identify, engage ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  AW119 Koala-Portugal

  The order includes options for a further two aircraft. The helicopters will be deployed in a range of missions, including training, MEDEVAC, troop transport and ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  V-Bat [Romania]

  Programme Background Modernisation According to HotNews, a Romanian news outlet reporting on 25 February 2025, the Romanian MoD announced to journalists that it would focus on ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Sea: navigation radar

  FAR-3000

  The FAR-3000 is Furuno's chart radar used to provide situational awareness and navigation safety. It has been developed mainly as a commercial radar, but New ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Protecteur Class JSS

  The Canadian government announced on 2 June 2013 the selection of the Berlin-class design, proposed by ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems Canada, to meet the Royal Canadian Navy’s ...

• Submarines: conventional/attack

  Scorpene Class

  The Chilean Scorpene-class were procured from the consortium composed of Naval Group and Navantia in the late 1990s. The submarines, which were delivered between 2005 and ...

• Minehunters

  Kormoran II Class

  Three Kormoran II-class minehunters were budgeted for the Polish Navy in 2011, and a contract was placed for a prototype in 2013, with the first ...

• Patrol boats

  Warrior Class (Stan Patrol 6211)

  Under Project Biro, the South African Navy is acquiring three new multi-mission inshore patrol vessels. The project is expected to run for approximately seven years, ...

• Submarines: conventional/attack

  Gotland Class

  Three Gotland-class (A19) conventional attack submarines are in service with the Swedish Navy. All three boats have completed an extensive mid-life upgrade. The submarines now ...

• Data links

  Multimedia Com HDLP

  HDLP is a software object providing data link layer services for HF radio data communications. It has been designed for insertion as the data link ...

• Subsystems: hardware

  Maritime Console

  The Discovery Machine Maritime Console can create highly intelligent entities for use in simulated training events. It is designed to work with the USN Joint ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems

  FlyingFish Maritime

  The FlyingFish Maritime SIGINT system is one of several derivatives of the FlyingFish Airborne Satellite Monitoring System developed by Horizon Technologies. Designed to be mounted ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  SitaWare Maritime

  Developed by Systematic, SitaWare Maritime is a C4ISR system that emphasises interoperability, the ability to provide a recognised maritime picture, and data-led decision-making aids. According ...

• Sea: naval surveillance radar, Sea: navigation radar

  SharpEye

  The SharpEye radar is a multi-band combined naval navigation and surveillance radar manufactured by Kelvin Hughes (now under Hensoldt UK). It is marketed towards navies, ...

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

  AeroForce 380

  The AeroForce 380 is a MALE fixed-wing drone. Based on the Milkor 380, it is tailored for maritime surveillance and Coast Guard missions. It can ...

• Maritime patrol

  Cessna Maritime Patrol

  The Cessna 'special mission' Maritime Patrol Aircraft is a variant of the Cessna Citation Longitude business jet developed by Textron aviation. Textron has stated the onboard systems, ...

• EO/IR systems

  Tornado-ER

  The Tornado-ER is an EO panoramic scanning and automatic maritime target detection system that can automatically detect a range of land and maritime targets, including ...

• Air: helicopter radar, Air: surveillance and maritime patrol radar

  ELM-2022ES

  The ELM-2022 is an AESA maritime patrol radar developed by Elta Systems. The ELM-2022ES is a variant within the 2022 radar family designed for deployment ...