• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Unexpected UK MQ-9 Reaper buy looks to prevent unmanned capability gap

  9th April 2021

  A US DoD contract has revealed that the UK has agreed to buy an additional MQ-9 Reaper. The thinking behind this may be associated with a need to maintain unmanned operational output ahead of the introduction of the MQ-9B SkyGuardian.

• Land Warfare

  Japan plans a successor to its LAV

  4th March 2021

  The current state of play in Japan's defence industry means that Tokyo might have to look overseas for its next LAV 4x4.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  KAI and IAI loiter with intent

  12th March 2021

  Integrating manned-unmanned teaming onto its aircraft platforms is uppermost in KAI's mind.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Thales and MHI team up for autonomous mine detection

  30th March 2021

  French and Japanese companies to jointly develop a dual-frequency sonar demonstrator for mine countermeasures.

• Land Warfare

  British MoD awards Thales UK a £98 million air defence missile contract

  4th March 2021

  Thales UK won a five-year contract to maintain the SHORAD capability for the British Army and Royal Marines. The £98.4 million (US $136 million) deal will secure 119 jobs at the company’s facility in Belfast.

• Land Warfare

  Make in India extends to minelayer vehicle

  26th February 2021

  ​DRDO transfers technology for Godrej Precision Engineering to produce Mechanical Mine Layer-Self Propelled vehicle.

• Naval Warfare

  Japan mulls a successor to Oosumi-class transport vessels

  19th March 2021

  The JMSDF will have to replace its Oosumi-class transport vessels, but their replacement does not seem to have been given the priority it deserves.

• Naval Warfare

  Japan commissions a flurry of new ships

  23rd March 2021

  Japan's navy continues to pump out new ships, though it is far outpaced by Chinese naval shipbuilding.

• Defence Notes

  Taiwan’s Quadrennial Defence Review highlights China’s threat

  1st April 2021

  Taiwan releases a major defence report every four years after elections take place.

• Air Warfare

  South Korea joins the ‘big boys’ with rollout of KF-21

  13th April 2021

  South Korea's project to create an affordable but capable modern fighter still appears to be on track, as the first prototype is rolled out.

• Land Warfare

  Russia puts Bumerang on the global market

  22nd February 2021

  Bumerang has been approved for export and presented at two trade shows already this year – but as its name suggests, efforts to sell the wheeled armoured platform could rebound.

• Air Warfare

  The F-35 for the UK – At the Heart of Aerospace Innovation (Studio)

  15th April 2021

  The UK's investment in the F-35B is a key driver of future aerospace innovation in the UK.

• Training

  Irish Air Corps outsources more pilot training as shortfalls bite

  22nd March 2021

  The Irish Air Corps is suffering from a shortage of instructors and maintenance technicians for its PC-9M fleet, meaning that it is sending increasing numbers of pilot students overseas for their training.

• Defence Notes

  US researchers claim progress in self-propelled materials

  26th February 2021

  Lessons from nature inform US Army-funded research into new ways of moving machines. If this research is taken further forward, it could result in vehicles that do not consume large quantities of fuel or require bulky motors.

• Land Warfare

  India lodges light tactical vehicle order with Mahindra

  23rd March 2021

  Via a 'Make in India' contract, the Indian Army is beefing up protection levels for its troops using light vehicles.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Self-propelled rocket launchers

  K239 Chunmoo (Batch 1) [Estonia]

  Background Estonia currently operates the HIMARS as its primary MRLS. However, in an effort to expand its capabilities, as well as diversify its supply base, ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Caesar [Croatia]

  Background Croatia currently operates the Soviet 2S1 Gvozdika, alongside a small number of German PzH 2000s.  Since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, multiple ...

• Self-propelled rocket launchers

  K239 Chunmoo [Norway]

  Programme Background Norway previously operated a fleet of 12 M270 MLRS, which were put into storage in 2005 before being donated to Ukraine, via the ...

• Loitering munitions

  Warmate 3.0 [South Korea]

  Programme Background Korean Reports On 3 September 2024, The Korea Economic Daily, nicknamed Hankyung, reported that the South Korean military was to introduce Polish loitering ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Pandur II (Second Batch)

  Since the first two Pandur IIs were delivered at the end of 2019, this forecast anticipates that the majority of the value of this programme ...

• Self-propelled guns

  ATMOS [Colombia]

  Programme background The Colombian army currently operates a variety of towed artillery platforms. The acquisition of self-propelled platforms is intended to enhance the capabilities of ...

• Self-propelled guns

  K9 Thunder (Batch 1) [Poland]

  Programme Background Poland began utilising the K9 in 2008, when it was selected as the basis for its domestically produced Krab self-propelled gun, with the K9 providing ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Caesar (Batch 2) [Estonia]

  Programme Background Estonia procured its first 12 Caesars in June 2024, with deliveries taking place in 2025. This second contract, awarded in February 2026, mirrors ...

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

  DT46 [France]

  Programme Background Reports Around Eurosatory 2024, multiple defence news outlets, notably Army Recognition and The Defence Post, reported that the French Army had acquired Delair's ...

• Self-propelled guns

  ATMOS [Denmark]

  Programme Background In 2016, the ATMOS was one of two systems shortlisted to meet a requirement from the Danish Army for up to 21 new ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  CH-47D Replacement [Thailand]

  Programme Background The RTA divested its six Boeing CH-47D Chinooks after failing to sell the 25-year-old aircraft on the second-hand market. Thailand found Chinook maintenance ...

• Self-propelled guns

  K9 Thunder (Batch 2) [Poland]

  Programme Background Poland began utilising the K9 in 2008, when it was selected as the basis for its domestically produced Krab self-propelled gun, with the K9 providing ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Rosomak [Poland - Fifth Batch]

  Programme Background The Polish Army selected the Rosomak 8x8 armoured vehicle (a version of Patria's Armored Modular Vehicle (AMV) 8x8 produced under licence by Rosomak) ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Titus

  While there has been no direct confirmation that Nexter has sold the Titus to Saudi Arabia, it has been confirmed that Nexter has delivered CAESAR ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  4x4 Command and Reconnaissance Vehicle [Poland]

  Programme Background The Polish Army wants to replace legacy Soviet equipment procured during the Cold War with new NATO-standard platforms to enhance its interoperability with ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Self-propelled guns

  Arpan

  The Arpan is a 155mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer (SPH), developed by ASFAT. It is a modification of the Panter towed howitzer, developed to provide a ...

• Self-propelled guns

  PLZ-05/PLZ-52

  The PLZ-05 is a 155 mm tracked self-propelled howitzer developed for the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) to supplement and eventually replace its inventory of ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Morana

  Developed by Excalibur Army, the Morana is a 155mm self-propelled-howitzer capable of hitting targets up to 41km away. The howitzer is mounted on a Tatra Force ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Uran

  The Urun is a 105mm self-propelled howitzer (SPH) developed by MKE. First unveiled at SAHA 2026, the Urun is intended to provide a mobile fire ...

• Land: battle management systems

  ATLAS

  An interoperable C4I system for artillery missions and resources deployed in the French Army. Commissioned in 2005, ATLAS represents a main element of battlespace digitisation, ...

• Self-propelled guns

  SH3

  The SH3 (also referred to as WMZ322) is a 122 mm tracked self-propelled howitzer introduced by Norinco in 2008. Believed to be an updated version ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Attila

  The Attila is a wheeled 155mm self-propelled howitzer (SPH) developed by MKE. Unveiled at SAHA 2026, the Attila is intended to provide Turkey with a ...

• Self-propelled guns

  GCT

  The GCT 155 mm tracked self-propelled howitzer was developed as a replacement for the French Army's Mk F3 155 mm self-propelled howitzer. Unlike the open-topped ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Gurhan

  The Gurhan is a tracked 155mm self-propelled howitzer (SPH) developed by MKE. First unveiled at SAHA 2024, the Gurhan is intended to provide a domestically ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Type 99

  The Type 99 is a self-propelled howitzer developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and the Japan Steel Works to replace the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's ...

• Guided munitions

  GP155/GP155A

  The GP155 and its advanced variant, the GP155A, are precision-guided 155 mm artillery projectiles developed by Norinco.

• Unguided Artillery Ammunition

  XM1122E1 High Explosive Projectile

  The XM1122E1 High Explosive Projectile is a 155mm artillery round being developed by General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems. As of May 2025, it was undergoing testing with the US Army.

• Unguided Artillery Ammunition

  XM1113 High Explosive, Rocket Assisted Projectile (RAP)

  The XM1113 High Explosive, Rocket Assisted Projectile (RAP) is a 155mm artillery shell being developed by General Dynamics Ordnance Systems for the US Army.

• Self-propelled guns

  Type 89/PLZ-89

  Developed during the 1980s to meet a requirement from the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) for a fully-enclosed 122 mm tracked self-propelled gun, the Type ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  CTL-181

  Produced by Dongfeng Motor Corporation, the CTL-181 is a 6x6 armoured tactical vehicle designed for the People's Liberation Army (PLA). The PLA uses the CTL-181 ...