• Defence Notes

  US denies report it is leaving up to 1,000 troops in Syria

  18th March 2019

  The US strongly denied a report that it intended to leave almost 1,000 troops in Syria, adding plans for a residual force of around 200 …

• Land Warfare

  AUSA Global 2019: Containerised Weapon System to integrate new possibilities

  26th March 2019

  The US Army’s Containerised Weapon System (CWS) will receive upgraded capabilities as a number of already operational systems get the go-ahead for integration in the …

• Military Logistics

  Leonardo DRS receives MSD V4 systems contract

  29th March 2019

  Leonardo DRS has received a contract from the US Army to provide ruggedised next-generation maintenance and testing systems, the company announced on 26 March. The …

• Special Operations

  JSOC identifies areas of Interest

  23rd March 2019

  Seeking to maintain the tactical advantage over near peer and high capability adversaries, the US Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) has disclosed its Capability and …

• Defence Notes

  Estonia receives M-28 light transport aircraft

  25th March 2019

  The Estonian Air Force will enhance its operational capability by the acquisition of two M-28 Skytruck light transport aircraft donated by the US government, the …

• Digital Battlespace

  Northrop to support Poland’s Wisla programme

  20th March 2019

  Northrop Grumman has received a $713 million contract for the production of Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) Battle Command Systems (IBCS) for the first …

• Special Operations

  NATO holds SOF Commander’s Conference

  2nd April 2019

  The latest NATO Special Operations Forces Commander’s Conference was hosted by the Irish Defence Forces’ Army Ranger Wing (ARW) in Dublin between 25-27 March.Organized by …

• Naval Warfare

  USCG receives and commissions new FRCs

  27th March 2019

  The US Coast Guard (USCG) commissioned its 31st fast response cutter (FRC), Terrell Horne, in San Pedro, California on 22 March. The cutter is the …

• Land Warfare

  US DoD selects Barrett sniper rifle

  21st March 2019

  Barrett Firearms has received a five-year contract worth $50 million from the US Department of Defense to deliver the Multi Role Adaptive Design (MRAD) sniper …

• Digital Battlespace

  CTSi to deliver cybersecurity tools to USAF

  26th March 2019

  Coherent Technical Services (CTSi ) has received a contract to deliver tools to enable systematic testing of avionics cyber security for the US Air Force. …

• Training

  Arotech receives orders for FAAC, MILO systems

  25th March 2019

  Arotech’s Training and Simulation Division (ATSD) has received $2.9 million in orders from the US Department of State for FAAC police driving simulators and MILO …

• Defence Notes

  Merkel rejects US criticism on defence spending

  19th March 2019

  On 19 March 2019 Chancellor Angela Merkel insisted Germany will not cut foreign aid to raise military spending, rejecting US criticism of its defence outlays. …

• Naval Warfare

  Investigation continues into USS Devastator fire

  19th March 2019

  Bahrain-based US military personnel are continuing to investigate the cause of a fire onboard the mine countermeasure vessel USS Devastator while moored at Naval Support …

• Defence Notes

  France pours cold water on Trump's NATO Brazil musings

  21st March 2019

  On 20 March 2019 France appeared to nix US President Donald Trump's suggestion that Brazil could become a NATO member while opening the door to …

• Training

  Virtra adds Innotech technology

  15th February 2019

  Virtual small arms trainer (VSAT) specialists, VirTra has acquired, what it terms, ‘various intellectual property assets and proprietary designs related to simulated firearm technology from …

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 ...