• Defence Helicopter

  Sikorsky lands $2.7 billion contract for CH-53K helicopters, eight for Israel and 27 for USMC

  25th August 2023

  The USN has awarded Sikorsky a $2.7 billion contract for the production and delivery of 35 CH-53K King Stallion helicopters, split between the USMC and Israel, with deliveries expected to start in 2026.

• Land Warfare

  Israel-Hamas War: Israel’s fleet of armoured vehicles set to get their metal tested

  20th October 2023

  Israel appears to be set for a ground war in northern Gaza in what the Israeli government argues is an effort to destroy the capability of Hamas to attack Israel. It is an environment the IDF has fought in before and the army’s vehicles will likely have a key role.

• Air Warfare

  JetZero receives $235 million from the US Air Force to develop fuel-efficient blended-wing aircraft

  18th August 2023

  JetZero has won a $235 million award from USAF to accelerate the development of its blended-wing body aircraft which promises a 50% reduction in fuel burn and emissions.

• Training

  International forces collaborate in Exercise Ulchi to enhance Northeast Asia's security

  22nd August 2023

  Exercise Ulchi Freedom Shield 23 underscores international cooperation in strengthening defence capabilities, as US and South Korean military units and several UN Command member states engage in training.

• Defence Notes

  US to increase funds for artificial intelligence capabilities in FY2024

  11th August 2023

  Senate Committee on Appropriations recently proposed allocating $281 million above the Pentagon’s budget request to advance the use of AI.

• Air Warfare

  Azerbaijan's integral role in Turkish TF-X Kaan fighter programme strengthens defence capabilities and strategic ties

  2nd August 2023

  'By involving Azerbaijan [in the TF-X Kaan programme], Türkiye can potentially share the financial burden of the project, leading to cost savings and economic advantages for both countries,' team lead for government contracting at Tusas Engine Industries tells Shephard.

• Training

  Textron completes T-6C Texan II deliveries to Tunisia

  17th August 2023

  The eighth and last Beechcraft T-6C Texan II aircraft has arrived in support of Tunisian Air Force pilot training at No 13 Squadron at Sfax Air Base in Tunisia.

• Digital Battlespace

  Smartshooter seeks US military interest in remote control fire control stations

  30th June 2023

  Smartshooter has unveiled a remotely controlled fire control system (FCS) integrated with radar and is looking for US DoD interest.

• Air Warfare

  XTEND aims to expand UAS footprint in US and the app store

  30th June 2023

  Israeli UAS developer XTEND will open a production facility in Florida to meet demand from DoD clients and also has signed a partnership with software development company SightX

• Defence Notes

  Boom time has arrived for South Korean defence exports (Opinion)

  9th October 2023

  The Asian country to make the most spectacular and stellar success in terms of arms exports is none other than South Korea, a nation of 51.7 million citizens.

• Air Warfare

  Chinese balloon affair prompts lawmakers' push on Pentagon to improve air and sea detection

  7th August 2023

  The US Senate Committee on Appropriations has proposed an additional $293.5 million for new and upgraded radars plus communications equipment to protect the US homeland.

• Air Warfare

  Teal Drones boosted by order for more by USAF Security Forces and ID certification from FAA

  23rd August 2023

  Teal Drones has had its order book for USAF Security Forces doubled, and its Teal 2 UAS has received Remote ID certification. The latter meaning the platform can provide identification and location information, a requirement for operation in US airspace from next month.

• Digital Battlespace

  Collins Aerospace awarded contract for BLoS satellite communications pod

  11th August 2023

  Collins Aerospace has been awarded a $36 million contract to develop and demonstrate a platform-agnostic BLoS satellite communications pod for the USAF Research Laboratory (USAFRL).

• Digital Battlespace

  Leonardo DRS to provide new infrared sights for US Army snipers

  12th June 2023

  Under a new five-year contract Leonardo DRS will supply US Army infantry units with its Family of Weapon Sights-Sniper, Improved Night/Day Observation Device Block III.

• Air Warfare

  CAE delivers first magnetic anomaly detectors for Japanese maritime patrol aircraft fleet

  2nd June 2023

  CAE has delivered the first MAD-XR magnetic anomaly detectors for installation in new P-1 maritime patrol aircraft operated by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• LTVs - 4x4

  Infantry Squad Vehicle (Heavy) [USA]

  Background The US Army has been operating the ISV since 2019. It currently serves alongside the JLTV and HMMWV in the Army's Mobile Brigade Combat ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Infantry Squad Vehicle [USA]

  Background The JLTV, HMMWV, and ISV constitute the US Army’s Light Tactical Vehicle (LTV) fleet. The US Army has evaluated the ISV as part of ...

• Medium UGVs

  Medium Modular Equipment Transport Trailer (M-METT) [USA]

  Background Whilst there are many medium UGV programmes developing concepts for last-mile resupply problems, the US Army's M-METT programme aims to provide an uncrewed logistics ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Light Utility Vehicle (COTS) [Canada]

  Background The Canadian Army currently employs two platforms in what it terms its Light Utility Vehicle Wheeled (LUVW) fleet, the Mercedes G-Wagon and the Chevrolet Silverado. There ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Land Mobility Programme (Light Mobility Vehicle) [UK]

  This programme briefly introduces the wider Land Mobility Programme and then focuses on the Light Mobility Vehicle (LMV) programme. Information on the LPM and HPM can ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Light Forces Enhancement [Canada]

  Background The LFE programme was first launched in 2020 with the intention of providing the Canadian army with new light mobility platforms that could rapidly ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  G-Wagon Replacement [Norway]

  Programme Background The Norwegian Army began to acquire its fleet of 3,000 G-Wagons in the 1980s. They are currently used for a variety of roles, ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  G-Wagon Replacement [Sweden]

  Programme Background Sweden currently operates an estimated 400 G-Wagons across the Army and Air Force, where they are used in a logistics and support capacity.  ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  G-Wagon Replacement [Argentina]

  Programme Background Like many militaries around the world, the Argentine Army uses the G-Wagon as a logisitics and support vehicle. In keeping with other G-Wagon ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  G-Wagon Replacement [Latvia]

  Programme Background Latvia procured 240 G-Wagons from Norway in 2004. These vehicles had been kept in storage in Norway and had very low mileage. This ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  eLRV [USA]

  Background Purpose The US Army unveiled a new concept for a more deployable IBCT structure at AUSA in October 2014. Built around three main types of ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Xtender [US]

  Programme Background Previous Procurement In early 2021, the US Department of Defence awarded a contract to XTEND for the platform in partnership with Isreal's MoD. ...

• Maritime patrol

  Maritime Patrol Aircraft [Singapore]

  Programme Background Deployed from Changi West airbase, and jointly operated by the RSAF and Republic of Singapore Navy, the ageing Fokker 50 fleet is primarily ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  BOV 8x8 (Batch 2) [Slovakia]

  Programme Background Requirement The Slovakian Army has a long-standing requirement for 8x8 armoured vehicles to equip its medium mechanised battalions and the combat support elements ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  BOV 8x8 [Slovakia - 3rd Batch]

  Programme Background Requirement The Slovakian Army has a long-standing requirement for 8x8 armoured vehicles to equip its medium mechanised battalions and the combat support elements ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• LTVs - 4x4

  Infantry Squad Vehicle

  The General Motors (GM) Defense Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) is a fully-integrated military platform based on the Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 mid-sized truck chassis with Roll ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Electric Military Concept Vehicle

  The Electric Military Concept Vehicle (e-MCV) is General Motors (GM) Defense's concept vehicle designed for the US Army's ongoing electric Light Reconnaissance Vehicle (eLRV) programme. Based on ...

• Land: air defence radar

  9S18M1E

  The 9S18M1E is a mobile, 3D, frequency-agile coherent pulse radar designed to detect and identify air threats and feed target data to the Buk-M1E AD ...

• Military vehicle engines

  6V53

  The 6V53 is a six cylinder, turbocharged diesel engine that stems from the GM Diesel Series 53 engine launched in 1957. The 6V53 has a ...

• Medium Range Missile Defence Systems: 20-90km range

  2K12 Kub (SA-6 Gainful)

  The 2K12 Kub, known by its NATO reporting name SA-6 Gainful, is a Soviet-era mobile surface-to-air missile (SAM) system designed to provide ground forces with low ...

• Self-propelled guns, Self-propelled missile systems

  Tunguska

  KBP Instrument Design Bureau began development of the 2K22 Tunguska tracked self-propelled anti-aircraft gun and missile system in 1970 to provide the Soviet Army with ...

• Medium UGVs

  SURUS

  General Motors unveiled its Silent Utility Rover Universal Superstructure (SURUS) – a large, multipurpose, hydrogen-electric UGV – at the AUSA exhibition in Washington, DC, in ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  CombatGuard

  IMI Systems unveiled its new CombatGuard, a 4x4 armoured combat vehicle designed to provide a high level of off-road mobility, at Eurosatory 2014. It is ...

• Air: mission management systems

  TAIKS Fire Support C3 System

  TAIKS is the tactical element of AFSAS (see separate entry) that integrates fire support units and target acquisition systems with each other and other functional ...

• Subsystems: software

  Network Defense Trainer

  The Scalable Network Defense Trainer is an LVC simulation system for delivering realistic hands-on cyber training. It enables students to experience cyber attacks launched against ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming, Air: Electronic Attack - Pod

  Talisman [Defense Initiatives]

  The Talisman is an integrated self-protection system developed by Defense Initiatives of Belarus. It is designed to equip combat aircraft and is thought to be ...

• Land: COMINT and ELINT systems

  GenCOM Defense Ground

  GenCOM Defense Ground provides an automatic multi-layered situational awareness picture to the decision-maker, based on external signal data (metadata) gathered in real time. Integrating with ...

• Naval: COMINT and ELINT systems

  GenCOM Defense Naval

  GenCOM Defense Naval offers an automatic situational awareness picture achieved through integration with single or multiple CESM-DF arrival sensors deployed on an array of naval ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems

  GenCOM Defense Air

  GenCOM Defense Air provides an automatic multi-layered situational awareness picture to the decision-maker, based on external signal data (metadata) gathered in real time. Integrating with ...

• Land: battle management systems

  ADC3

  IAI's Air Defense Command, Control and Communication (ADC3) was developed to meet the air defence mission requirements of Israeli Defense Forces.