• Naval Warfare

  US Navy to christen DDG 1002

  26th April 2019

  The US Navy is set to christen its newest Zumwalt-class guided missile destroyer, the future USS Lyndon B Johnson (DDG 1002), at General Dynamics-Bath Iron …

• Special Operations

  Lockheed Martin adds tether option to Indago

  2nd May 2019

  Lockheed Martin has added a tether option to its Indago UAS platform to support US Special Forces' ISR operations, the company announced on 29 April. …

• Naval Warfare

  UDT Europe 2019: New Wyvern variants to be unveiled

  7th May 2019

  UK naval design firm BMT is planning to present new models of its Wyvern submarine concept at Underwater Defence Technology (UDT) 2019. In addition to …

• Training

  Australia’s HATS achieves IOC

  3rd April 2019

  The Australian Defence Force’s Helicopter Aircrew Training System (HATS) has successfully achieved initial operating capability (IOC), the Australian Department of Defence announced on 1 April. …

• Training

  ADF issues final acceptance of CH-47F CAT

  4th April 2019

  The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has completed all evaluation testing of Kratos’ CH-47F Chinook Avionics Trainers (CAT), Kratos Defense & Security Solutions announced on 1 …

• Defence Helicopter

  Insight: What next for the FARA five?

  24th April 2019

  The US Army’s decision to select five industry design proposals for its Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) competition can be read as a first clear …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  AUVSI 2019: Collins Aerospace’s civil avionic solutions aid military missions

  1st May 2019

  The application of Collins Aerospace’s Pro Line Fusion avionics system is reducing crew workloads and being applied to military aircraft with ease due to its …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  NASC TigerShark-XP receives FAA experimental certification

  3rd May 2019

  Navmar Applied Sciences Corporation (NASC) has received special airworthiness certification in the experimental category from the FAA for two TigerShark-XP UAS, the N1740X and N1750X, …

• Defence Notes

  NATO confirms plans for US military storage in Poland

  26th March 2019

  NATO on 23 March 2019 confirmed it plans a storage facility for US military equipment in Poland, as the alliance steps up its defences in …

• Digital Battlespace

  Milipol Asia 2019: Silent Archer raises voice in Asia for first time

  3rd April 2019

  SRC made its first foray into the Asian region via an appearance at the Milipol Asia 2019 exhibition in Singapore, with the US company’s Silent …

• Land Warfare

  IMDEX Asia 2019: Philippine marines receive first KAAVs

  9th May 2019

  In April 2019, the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) received four Korean Amphibious Assault Vehicles (KAAV), an amount that constitutes half the PHP2.423 billion ($52.6 million) …

• Military Logistics

  LIMA 2019: RMAF focuses on MRO out of necessity

  1st April 2019

  The Malaysian government put a positive gloss on LIMA 2019 in Langkawi, stating that MYR3.67 billion’s ($913.8 million) worth of deals was concluded. These included …

• Naval Warfare

  Aegis Virtual Twin intercepts first target

  29th April 2019

  The US Navy successfully executed the first live-fire engagement with the new Aegis Virtual Twin system, prototype of the Aegis virtual combat management system, from …

• Naval Warfare

  Sea Giraffe ordered for US Navy vessels

  22nd April 2019

  Saab’s Sea Giraffe AMB naval radar has been ordered by General Dynamics for the US Navy's newest Littoral Combat Ships (LCS), the company announced on …

• Defence Helicopter

  Bell plans to build 407GXi in Ozark

  25th April 2019

  Bell Helicopter has proposed its final assembly plans for the Bell 407GXi aircraft, Textron announced on 18 April. Should the Bell 407GXi be selected for …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Land 400 Phase 3 (Logistics, Ammunition Carrier and Mortar Carrier Variants) [Australia]

  Programme Background The Australian DoD released the initial RfI for the Land 400 Phase 3 programme in November 2015. Following consultations with local industry, the ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Land 400 Phase 3 (Amphibious Vehicles) [Australia]

  Programme Background The Australian DoD released the initial RfI for the Land 400 Phase 3 programme in November 2015. Following consultations with local industry, the ...

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

  Drone40 (Ukraine Aid) [Australia]

  Programme Background In August 2022, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), a think tank, held a podcast with Ukraine's ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, in which ...

• Main battle tanks

  M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams [Poland]

  Programme Background Requirement Since the early 2010s Poland wanted to upgrade its Soviet-era tank fleet due to modernisation requirements, the need to increase interoperability with NATO ...

• Landing craft and hovercraft

  Littoral Manoeuvre Vessel - Medium (Project Land 8710 Phase 1A) [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirements Australia has set out requirements for a fleet of up to 18 Littoral Manoeuvre Vessels - Medium (LMV-M) with the release of ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Land 400 Phase 2 - Boxer CRV [Australia]

  Programme Background History The Land 400 Phase 2 programme will procure a replacement for the ASLAV, a derivative of the General Dynamics Land Systems Light Armoured Vehicle ...

• Main battle tanks

  Leopard 2A4 [Czech Republic]

  Programme Background  The Czech Republic currently operates a small fleet of T-72s, which, while undergoing upgrades and life extension programmes, are increasingly obsolete. In October ...

• Submarines: nuclear, attack

  Second Hand SSNs [Australia]

  Programme Background Timeline In September 2021, it was announced in a trilateral announcement between Australia, the US and the UK that Australia, in a shock ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | AUKUS-SSNs (1-5) [Australia]

  In September 2021, it was announced in a trilateral announcement between Australia, the US and the UK that Australia, in a shock move, will not ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | AUKUS-SSNs (1-5) [Australia]

  In September 2021, it was announced in a trilateral announcement between Australia, the US and the UK that Australia, in a shock move, will not ...

• Main battle tanks

  Viatura Blindada de Combate-Carro de Combate (VBC-CC) [Brazil]

  Programme Background Several key technical requirements have been outlined by the Brazilian MoD. Among the most important are that the platform should weigh less than ...

• Main battle tanks

  M1A1 Abrams (Ukraine Aid) [Australia]

  Programme Background Since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Australia has been amongst the various Western allies providing Ukraine with military aid. Prior ...

• Submarines: nuclear, attack

  AUKUS-SSNs (1-5) [Australia]

  Programme Background AUKUS Australia announced on 16 September 2021 that the contract with Naval Group signed in 2016 had been cancelled. Although not a surprising ...

• Medium UGVs

  Mission Master (RPV Sprial 2) [UK]

  Programme Background First announced in April 2017 and referred to in early MOD documents as the ‘last mile resupply’ initiative, the British Army is reportedly ...

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

  Project Air 7003 [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirement The Royal Australian Air Force has been without a UAS capability since the Heron was withdrawn in mid-2017. According to Defence Minister Linda Reynolds, ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Crew-served assault/anti-tank weapons

  Carl-Gustaf M3

  The Carl-Gustaf M3 is the third generation of the 84mm shoulder-fired recoilless antitank gun, first fielded by the Swedish Army in 1946. Since then, it ...

• Unguided Tank Ammunition

  120mm KE DM63 / DM53 A1 Tank Ammunition

  The 120mm kinetic energy tank ammunition is manufactured by Rheinmetall. There are several variations of the ammunition, including the DM63, which can be fired from ...

• Unguided Tank Ammunition

  120MM HEAT-TP F1A

  Franco-German KNDS-Nexter produce the 120mm High-Explosive Anti-Tank Training-Purpose F1A (HEAT-TP F1A) round to enable reduced-cost training for Main Battle Tank crews. 

• Main battle tanks

  M1/M1A1 Abrams

  The 105mm-armed M1 Abrams tracked MBT was introduced into US Army service in 1980 as a replacement for the 105mm-armed M60 MBT. In April 1991, ...

• Unguided Tank Ammunition

  120mm PELE Tank Ammunition

  The 120mm Penetrator with Enhanced Lateral Effect (PELE) tank ammunition is an inert round produced by Rheinmetall. It is suitable for use against semi-hard targets ...

• S-64 Helitanker Fire-fighting Equipment

  Erickson's 10,031l tank for the S-64 helitanker drops water, retardant or foam mix at a rate of around 95l/h. Microprocessor-controlled tank doors offer eight individual ...

• Naval: RF, IR and acoustic decoys

  Nulka

  The Nulka is an active anti-ship missile decoy originally conceived in Australia, and developed under a joint Australian-US programme. BAE Systems Australia is prime contractor, while ...

• Light mortars

  60mm Mortar Ammunition

  US-based LD Systems' 60mm Mortar ammunition fulfils the NATO standard for lightweight mortar ammunition.

• Crew-served assault/anti-tank weapons

  120mm L55A1

  The 120mm L55A1 is a smoothbore high-pressure gun based on the L55 tank gun. The L55A1 has been qualified and in service since 2019. It ...

• Crew-served assault/anti-tank weapons

  120mm L55 Tank Gun

  The 120mm L55 is a smoothbore tank gun produced by Rheinmetall. It is designed for use on the Leopard main battle tank, to which it ...

• Main battle tanks

  M1A2 SEPv3

  The M1A2 System Enhancement Package 3 (M1A2 SEPv3, also known as M1A2C) is the latest production-standard variant of the Abrams MBT. Designed primarily to address ...

• Unguided Tank Ammunition

  M1147 Advanced Multi-Purpose (AMP)

  The M1147 Advanced Multi-Purpose (AMP) is a 120mm tank round developed by Northrop Grumman Defence Systems. Various customers, including Bahrain, Israel, and the US, use the tank ...

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  Next Generation Combat Vehicle Ammunition

  The Next Generation Combat Vehicle Ammunition (NGVA) is a family of ammunition being developed by the US Army's Armaments Center and manufactured by General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems ...

• Submarines: nuclear, attack

  SSN AUKUS

  The SSN-AUKUS will be the submarine design resulting from the AUKUS trilateral pact between Australia, the US and the UK. Expected to incorporate technology from ...

• Land: tactical engagement simulators

  CVTESS

  Saab's Combat Vehicle Tactical Engagement Simulation System (CVTESS) is a laser-based simulator which supports every version of the Abrams Main Battle Tank and the Bradley ...