• Defence Notes

  Industry and procurement are up to the challenge of a manufacturing surge, says US Army acquisition boss

  26th January 2024

  US large vehicle defence programmes will have companies extremely busy towards the end of this decade with XM30, M1E3, M10 Booker and robotic combat vehicle likely to be rolling off production this decade and possibly simultaneously. The question is, can industry and the acquisition model handle the surge?

• Land Warfare

  French Army to receive 109 CAESAR MkII howitzers from 2026

  3rd February 2024

  Nexter’s Caesar (CAmion Equipé d’un Système d’ARtillerie) 6x6, a 155mm/52cal weapon mounted on a Renault Trucks Defense 6x6 Sherpa chassis,

• Land Warfare

  EDA's AIDED project showcases autonomous UGV and UAS collaboration

  5th October 2023

  The European Defence Agency's AIDED project concluded with a demonstration of AI-enabled coordination between aerial and ground uncrewed systems for the detection of explosives.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  UAE orders 200 EDGE uncrewed cargo and ISR helicopters

  25th January 2024

  The UAE has awarded a substantial contract to EDGE Group for 200 uncrewed helicopters at UMEX 2024.

• Land Warfare

  World Defense Show 2024: MARSS reacts to current events in Middle East and books RADiRguard sale

  5th February 2024

  MARSS, a UK-based technology company, has been gaining a stronger foothold in the CUAS field which has boomed in the past few years.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Milrem to supply large armed UGVs under a $200 million deal with the UAE

  24th January 2024

  Milrem's Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System (THeMIS) hybrid UGV features a modular design and open architecture which allows it to be reconfigured to serve as a transportation, weapons, reconnaissance or IED detection platform.

• Land Warfare

  New FFG combat support vehicle to be unveiled at Eurosatory

  23rd January 2024

  The Armoured Combat Support Vehicle (ACSV) G5, a tracked armoured vehicle, will replace vehicles such as the M113 APC series with a modular family that provides a high level of protection against ballistic, mine and IED threats.

• Defence Notes

  What the US expects from a third year of war in Ukraine

  22nd February 2024

  On the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the uncertainty regarding the future of the conflict has split opinions in Washington, placing military assistance to Kyiv and sanctions on Moscow in a nebulous zone.

• Naval Warfare

  US Navy takes receipt of next-generation landing craft

  9th November 2023

  The SSC LCAC 108 will replace legacy LCACs currently used by the US Navy and Marine Corps.

• Land Warfare

  Rheinmetall BAE Systems wins Challenger 3 modular armour contract in UK

  22nd January 2024

  RBSL has secured a contract from the UK Ministry of Defence to provide a new modular armour system for the Challenger 3 tank, which will enhance its survivability and counter modern threats.

• Land Warfare

  Babcock looks to test swarm technology in military environment

  7th December 2023

  SwarmCore, a technology designed to control swarming or individual uncrewed systems, offers protection in an environment where cyber threats can be present.

• Land Warfare

  Rheinmetall wins $380 million contract for Puma IFV ammunition

  17th January 2024

  Rheinmetall has been manufacturing 30mm x 173 DM21 service ammunition for German Puma IFV under a framework deal signed in 2022.

• Air Warfare

  Airbus boosts UAS portfolio with Aerovel acquisition and vertical takeoff drone

  17th January 2024

  Airbus Helicopters has acquired Aerovel and its VTOL UAS to advance the development of its own platforms including the VSR700.

• Naval Warfare

  World Defense Show 2024: First NiDAR CUAS set for combat ships

  6th February 2024

  NiDAR has already been operational on M/V Asterix, a naval auxiliary ship to the Royal Canadian Navy, marking the first time the system was put to use on a NATO-associated vessel.

• Air Warfare

  US Space Force accelerates acquisition and development of capabilities

  4th March 2024

  The service’s efforts have related to the use of commercial technologies, as well as satellite development, missile tracking and warning, space data, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Joint Tactical Autonomous Aerial Resupply System (JTAARS) / Medium ULS-A [USMC]

  Background US Marine ULS-A programmes The US Marines are seeking a family of Unmanned Logistics Systems-Air (ULS-A), which will provide logistics and ground units with their ...

• Loitering munitions

  Small-Sized Suicide Drones [South Korea]

  Programme Background Drone Ambition As reported by Shephard, South Korea has ambitions to possess a large arsenal of drones. In May 2024, the presidential office ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Invincible Class (Type 218SG) (5-6) [Singapore]

  In March 2025, the Singapore Ministry of Defence (Mindef) announced it would acquire two more submarines to complement its four Type 218SG Invincible-class submarines. Speaking to ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Invincible Class (Type 218SG) (5-6) [Singapore]

  In March 2025, the Singapore Ministry of Defence (Mindef) announced it would acquire two more submarines to complement its four Type 218SG Invincible-class submarines. Speaking to ...

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Switch V2 [India]

  Background Emergency Procurements In June 2025, India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced the signing of 13 contracts under the Emergency Procurement (EP) mechanism. The procurements, ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Type 707 (1-2) [Germany]

  Programme Background Requirements The German Navy approved an acquisition to start replacing the two ageing Rhön-class (Type 704) class single-hulled tankers, which were constructed in the ...

• Transport

  C-130 Replacement [Greece]

  Programme Background Requirement The existing C-130 fleet of the Hellenic Air Force has faced operational readiness issues, with only one or two airframes in service at ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  F-5E/F Adversary Trainer US Navy

  The F-5N is a single seat, dual engine supersonic land based fighter. It is designed to a service life of 9000 flight hours. The aircraft ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Land Autonomous Collaborative Platform (LACP) [UK]

  Background Autonomous Collaboration Platform (ACP) Strategy Reflecting on lessons learned from the cancellation of the Mosquito programme, the Royal Air Force (RAF) redefined the role ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-47F (Australia)

  Programme Background The government of Australia has requested to buy four CH-47F cargo helicopters with unique modifications: eight T55-GA-714A aircraft turbine engines, five AN/AAR-57 common ...

• OPVs

  58m OPV Procurement [Guyana]

  Programme Background Timeline In April 2024, OCEA announced the signing of a Letter of Intent (loI) with the Guyana Defence Force for the procurement of an ...

• Loitering munitions

  Nagastra-1 (Second Batch) [India]

  Background Emergency Procurements In June 2025, India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced the signing of 13 contracts under the Emergency Procurement (EP) mechanism. The procurements, which ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Second LHD [Turkey]

  Programme Background Timeline On 29 October 2023, during the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey, Turkish President Recep Erdogan stated that the Navy is ...

• Corvettes

  Ada Class Corvettes (1-2) [Ukraine]

  Programme Background Timeline In October 2020, the MoD of Ukraine and the President of the Turkish Defence Industries signed a memorandum of understanding. This outlined ...

• AEW&C

  E-7 Wedgetail (737) - UK

  Programme Background Seeking to replace its six ageing Boeing E-3 Sentry AEW&C;, the British Royal Air Force awarded Boeing a £1.89 billion contract in 2019 covering the ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Guided munitions

  LG-155

  Unveiled for the first time at Saha Expo 2024, the LG-155 is a 155 mm artillery round developed by Roketsan. This laser-guided projectile is engineered ...

• Deployable/static missile systems

  Oerlikon Laser Gun

  Rheinmetall showcased the applications for its High Energy Laser (HEL) guns for the first time at IDEX 2015 in Abu Dhabi. The Oerlikon Laser Gun ...

• Light machine guns

  LSAT LMG

  Textron Systems Unmanned Systems is developing and maturing a Lightweight Small Arms Technologies (LSAT) family of weapons and ammunition with the US Army that fires ...

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

  Attritable Multirotor First Person View (AM-FPV)

  Unveiled in May 2025, the Attritable Multirotor First Person View (AM-FPV) is a low-cost, rapidly deployable platform for strike and ISR missions, inspired by battlefield lessons from ...

• Land: COMINT and ELINT systems

  MEWS

  The Modular Electronic Warfare System (MEWS) is a land COMINT sensor that was jointly developed by L3 TRL and Qinetiq. Utilising L3 TRL compact receiver ...

• Land: fire control systems

  Oerlikon Skymaster

  Oerlikon Skymaster is the command and control unit of Rheinmetall's Skynex air defence system. The Skymaster is intended to support tactical and operational level air ...

• Land: air defence radar

  X-TAR 3D

  The X-Band Tactical Acquisition Radar 3D (X-TAR 3D) air surveillance and acquisition radar is the newest member of Rheinmetall’s X-TAR family. The fully coherent phased-array ...

• Air: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  Manta

  Manta is a laser-based DIRCM system for airborne platforms. Designed to defeat first- and second-generation and imaging IR seekers, it is said to be effective ...

• Land: COMINT and ELINT systems

  Smartscan- MEWS

  MEWS (Modular Electronic Warfare System) is a software-driven spectrum surveillance system covering two megahertz to three gigahertz. It is designed to detect, collect and geolocate ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  CM32/33/34 Yunpao

  The CM32 Yunpao (Cloud Leopard) family of 8x8 armoured vehicles has been developed to meet the requirements of the Republic of China Army to replace ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  SBTS

  The Shore-Based Sonar Training System (SBTS), launched in 2016, incorporates technology from the Model 997 Hull/Bow-Mounted Sonar Model 980 ALOFTS system to help support sonar ...

• Subsystems: visual

  Apogée 7

  Apogée 7 is an integrated COTS-based image generation system. It provides functions enhancing overall fixed- or rotary-wing simulation efficiency, image quality and supports large-area realistic ...

• Land: handheld NV devices

  NVS 7 Binocular Series

  Based on the NVS 7-3AG NVG, the NVS 7 Binocular Series uses Gen III auto-gated NV technology and is suitable for defence, marine and SAR ...

• Land: handheld NV devices

  Jaguar

  MKU's Jaguar 14 monoculars and Jaguar 7 binoculars have Gen III technology with military-grade Schott lenses. An automatic bright light cut-off sensor provides protection from ...

• Subsystems: visual

  FL33 series

  FL33 series projectors use LED illumination technology with a lifespan of up to 100,000 hours. Designed for 24/7 operation without need for changing lamps, the ...