• Uncrewed Vehicles

  US Army explores unmanned swarm applications

  11th September 2019

  US Army Futures Command (AFC) is exploring the potential to deploy UAS and UGVs to act as complementary swarm components, with multiple autonomous systems acting …

• Naval Warfare

  Insight: Will Royal Navy surface fleet jockey for future missile swaps?

  23rd August 2019

  With the UK MoD moving to further define the requirements for its Interim-Surface Ship Guided Weapon (I-SSGW) system in a 19 August contract notice, the …

• Naval Warfare

  Italy's Cavour carrier enters dock for F-35B integration work

  15th August 2019

  The Italian navy’s Cavour aircraft carrier has entered the Edgardo Ferrati drydock at Taranto to undergo maintenance and modernisation work to enable it to be …

• Defence Notes

  NATO backs US Afghan peace efforts

  4th September 2019

  NATO ‘fully supports’ American efforts to find peace in Afghanistan, the alliance chief said on 2 September after talks with US Secretary of State Mike …

• Military Logistics

  AAR to deliver C-40A aircraft to USMC

  12th September 2019

  AAR will deliver two 737 aircraft and associated support equipment to the US Marine Corps (USMC) under a $118.6 million contract announced on 6 September. …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  DSEI 2019: L3Harris unveils T4 robot

  13th September 2019

  L3Harris Technologies unveiled the first prototype of its T4 robotic system at DSEI 2019, a medium-sized UGV designed for use in urban environments where space …

• Naval Warfare

  General Dynamics receives sub repair work order

  12th August 2019

  General Dynamics Electric Boat Corp has received an order for the planning, material procurement and repair work of the US Navy’s USS Washington. The $15 …

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy ponders prolonging Los Angeles subs

  10th August 2019

  The US Navy is studying whether to extend the service life of some of its ageing Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs) by 12 years …

• Defence Helicopter

  Support contract awarded for German NH90 fleet

  29th August 2019

  Germany’s NH90 rotorcraft fleet will be supported by a new 10-year contract signed on 28 August between the government and two domestic suppliers. The Federal …

• Defence Helicopter

  Indian Air Force inducts AH-64E Apache

  10th September 2019

  The Indian Air Force (IAF) has formally inducted the AH-64E Apache helicopter into its inventory at Air Force Station Pathankot. The IAF has received eight …

• Defence Notes

  DSEI 2019: Market for air defence set to skyrocket

  12th September 2019

  In a new forecast briefed on 11 September at DSEI, Defence Insight predicted that the market for air defence and artillery systems over the next …

• Naval Warfare

  BAE Systems awarded US Navy vessel work

  8th August 2019

  BAE Systems will enhance operations on new build US Navy aircraft carriers, after being awarded a prime contractor position on a new IDIQ contract. The …

• Naval Warfare

  US authorises SM-3 sale to Japan

  2nd September 2019

  The US government has approved a potential Foreign Military Sale to Japan of up to 73 Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IIA vessel-based surface-to-air missile systems …

• Naval Warfare

  TADTE 2019: Taiwan’s LPD scheduled for completion in 2022

  22nd August 2019

  The Republic of China Navy’s (ROCN) new LPD, being acquired under Project Hung Yun, began construction in May. The vessel will mark the start of …

• Defence Notes

  MSPO2019: Poland lines up transport aircraft and anti-tank missile haul

  6th September 2019

  The Polish Ministry of Defence (MoD) has submitted two letters of request (LoR) to the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency relating to the planned procurement …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Maritime patrol

  P-8A Poseidon [US]

  Programme Background The P-8A Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) system is a heavily modified and militarized derivative of Boeing's 737-800 ERX commercial aircraft. The P-8A is ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-53K [USA]

  Programme Background The USMC is replacing its ageing CH-53E helicopters with the CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter. Designed as an evolution of the CH-53E, the CH-53K is ...

• Fighter - naval

  F-35B (FY2026-2031) [USA]

  Background According to U.S. budget documents throughout the decade, the U.S. Navy intends to acquire 324 F-35B STOVL aircraft. Prior to 2020, the U.S. Navy ...

• Maritime patrol

  P-8A Poseidon [UK]

  Programme Background In July 2016, the UK government announced that it had ordered nine aircraft for service with the RAF. Under this frame, in January ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Constellation Class - FFG(X) (11-20)

  The US Navy ran the Next Generational Future Guided Missile Frigate (FFG X) programme to build a replacement for the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates, the ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Constellation Class - FFG(X) (11-20)

  The US Navy ran the Next Generational Future Guided Missile Frigate (FFG X) programme to build a replacement for the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates, the ...

• Military helicopters - maritime, Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-53K - US Navy

  Programme Background The Marine Corps is replacing its aging CH-53E helicopters with the CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter. Designed as an evolution of the CH-53E, the CH-53K ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | F-35B STOVL Future Procurement - US Navy

  The US Navy is planning to order 115 F-35B STOVLs between FY2026 and FY2031 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated ...

• Data links

  Data links | F-35B STOVL Future Procurement - US Navy

  The US Navy is planning to order 115 F-35B STOVLs between FY2026 and FY2031 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | F-35B STOVL Future Procurement - US Navy

  The US Navy is planning to order 115 F-35B STOVLs between FY2026 and FY2031 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | F-35B STOVL Future Procurement - US Navy

  The US Navy is planning to order 115 F-35B STOVLs between FY2026 and FY2031 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | F-35B STOVL Future Procurement - US Navy

  The US Navy is planning to order 115 F-35B STOVLs between FY2026 and FY2031 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | F-35C Carrier Variant (CV) Future Procurement

  The US Navy is planning to order 130 F-35Cs between FY2026 and FY2030 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated be ...

• Data links

  Data links | F-35C Carrier Variant (CV) Future Procurement

  The US Navy is planning to order 130 F-35Cs between FY2026 and FY2030 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated be ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | F-35C Carrier Variant (CV) Future Procurement

  The US Navy is planning to order 130 F-35Cs between FY2026 and FY2030 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated be ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Maritime patrol

  US-2

  The ShinMaywa US-2 is an amphibious short take-off and landing aircraft used primarily by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) for SAR. 

• Military - USVs

  Voyager

  Voyager is an Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) built by US-based Saildrone. Voyager has been used by the US Navy (USN) and is one of three ...

• Military - UUVs

  Orca

  Orca is an extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicle (XLUUV) developed by Boeing for the US Navy (USN).

• Destroyers

  Kee Lung (Kidd) Class

  The Kee Lung-class consists of four ex-US Kidd-class guided missile destroyers in service with the Republic of China Navy (ROCN). The ships were originally built for ...

• Military - UUVs

  Mission Specialist Defender

  The Mission Specialist Defender is a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) developed by VideoRay, now part of BlueHalo's unmanned maritime systems. The ROV is known ...

• Data links

  GNOMAD US Domestic

  The US domestic version of GNOMAD (see separate entry) is a ruggedised system comprising a satellite antenna and baseband modular chassis that can be installed ...

• Military - USVs

  Explorer

  Saildrone's Explorer is the smallest of three USVs designed and built by the US-based USV manufacturer Saildrone. The system is used by the US Navy (USN) ...

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

  SeaFLIR 380-HD

  The SeaFLIR 380-HD is a long-range, multispectral surveillance system for surface vessels. Manufactured by Teledyne FLIR, the system combines HD IR, colour or SWIR spectral information. According to ...

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  MK266 High Explosive Incendiary with Tracer

  The MK266 High Explosive Incendiary with Tracer is a 30mm medium calibre round manufactured by Northrop Grumman. It is currently in use with the US Navy.

• Military - UUVs

  Snakehead LDUUV

  The Snakehead Large Displacement Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (LDUUV) is a US Navy (USN) Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (UUV) designed to be launched from submarine Dry Dock Shelters ...

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  XM1198 High Explosive Dual Purpose with Self Destruct (HEDP-SD)

  The XM1198 High Explosive Dual Purpose with Self Destruct (HEDP-SD) is a 30mm medium calibre round manufactured by Northrop Grumman. The US Navy uses the XM1198.

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Integrated Combat System

  The Integrated Combat System (ICS) is a combat management system being developed for the US Navy. The project, currently led by Lockheed Martin, aims to ...

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  XM950 Target Practice Round

  The XM950 Target Practice Round is a 30mm medium calibre training round manufactured by Northrop Grumman. The US Navy uses the XM950 for training with its ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Navy Multiband Terminal (NMT)

  The Navy Multiband Terminal is the next-generation maritime military SATCOM for the US Navy and allied nations. The terminal integrates EHF and AEHF systems with ...

• Ship-launched torpedoes, Submarine-launched torpedoes

  Mk-48 Mod 6AT ADCAP

  The Mk-48 ADCAP (Advanced Capability) is the improved version of the Mk-48 family. Development started with the Mk-48 Mod 5 and continues to the present ...