• Defence Notes

  F-35s for Taiwan: Will US cross China’s ‘red line’?

  12th April 2017

  Taiwan's National Security Council has made repeated requests to the Trump White House for the Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighter, a high-level US defence industry …

• Land Warfare

  Milipol Asia 2017: Up-gunning Asian security forces

  5th April 2017

  Asian snipers and counterterrorism forces are arming themselves differently to meet modern threats and environments, several armament vendors highlighted at the Milipol Asia-Pacific 2017 exhibition …

• Training

  Rockwell, Leonardo DRS selected for TCTS Inc-II

  3rd April 2017

  Rockwell Collins and Leonardo DRS have been selected by the US Navy to supply an encrypted, next-generation tactical training system for its Tactical Combat Training …

• Defence Helicopter

  HAL receives Dhruv order, increases sales

  3rd April 2017

  Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is in receipt of an order for 32 Dhruv Mk III helicopters, according to a contract signed on 30 March, buoying …

• Digital Battlespace

  Elbit wins Asia-Pacific ISTAR contract

  31st March 2017

  Elbit Systems will supply its Condor 2 electro-optic (EO) airborne system to an unnamed customer in the Asia-Pacific region. The company announced the four-year $82 …

• Land Warfare

  Bosnia receives HMMWVs from US government

  30th March 2017

  The US government has donated 24 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs) to the armed forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), with the vehicles handed …

• Defence Helicopter

  Pakistan orders more AW139 helicopters

  30th March 2017

  Leonardo will supply an undisclosed number of AW139 intermediate twin engine helicopters to the government of Pakistan, the company announced on 28 March.The aircraft will …

• Special Operations

  SOFINS: ​Airvada unveils inflatable UAVs

  29th March 2017

  French start-up company Airvada is presenting its range of innovative DIODON inflatable unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) at SOFINS, near Bordeaux.The idea which led to the …

• Special Operations

  ​SOFINS: Nexter unveils new ARX 25 turret variant

  29th March 2017

  French equipment manufacturer Nexter is showcasing the concept for its new ARX 25 'Low Profile' turret designed specifically for special forces (SF) use at the …

• Special Operations

  ​SOFINS: French SF showcase new tactical vehicle

  29th March 2017

  The French Military's Special Operations Command (COS) is showcasing its new Special Forces Heavy Weight (PLFS) tactical vehicle at SOFINS, in Souge.The new vehicle was …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  BACN completes 10,000th combat mission

  28th March 2017

  The US Air Force's Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) completed its 10,000th combat mission across its manned and unmanned aircraft fleet in March, Northrop Grumman …

• Land Warfare

  MCL to supply hearing protection to UK MoD

  24th March 2017

  Cohort company Marlborough Communications (MCL) has received a contract from the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to supply and support hearing protection systems and communication …

• Naval Warfare

  RAN conducts advance force training

  17th March 2017

  The Royal Australian Navy's (RAN's) HMAS Huon has put its mine countermeasures equipment and helicopter operations to the test as part of Exercise Ocean Explorer, …

• Naval Warfare

  Philippine Coast Guard MRRV commissioned

  13th March 2017

  The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has received its third multi-role response vessel (MRRV) from Japan, the agency announced on 7 March. The vessel was commissioned …

• Defence Notes

  PLA expanding marine corps

  13th March 2017

  China is planning a huge increase in the size of its marine corp, improving the capability of its amphibious and rapid reaction forces. Some media …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - HALE

  MQ-4C Triton (28-68) [USN]

  Background Requirement The MQ-4C Triton programme, developed under the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) programme, required an uncrewed system to provide persistent, broad-area intelligence, surveillance ...

• Military UAS - MALE, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  MQ-8C Fire Scout (USA)

  Programme Background Timeline According to the Naval Air Systems Command, having first ordered the MQ-8B in 2009, the UAV has become a pillar of the ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Medium Landing Ship (1-10) [USMC]

  Programme Background Development As part of the US Marine Corps' future force structure, it is developing a new platform under the Medium Lading Ship programme ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Medium Landing Ship (11-33) [USMC]

  Programme Background Requirements As part of the US Marine Corps' future force structure, it is developing a new platform under the Medium Lading Ship programme ...

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

  Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Unmanned Expeditionary (MUX) (Increment 1) [USMC]

  Programme Background All-in-One UAV Since 2016, the USMC has wished to acquire a UAV that could be deployed from a vessel, be used for various missions, ...

• Military UAS - HALE

  MQ-4C Triton (1-27) [USN]

  Background Requirement The MQ-4C Triton programme, developed under the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) programme, required an uncrewed system to provide persistent, broad-area intelligence, surveillance ...

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

  Medium Range/Medium Endurance (MR/ME) [USMC]

  Programme Background Force Design 2030 The USMC Force Design 2030 is a modernisation effort to create a lighter, more agile maritime force. The update to ...

• UAS: communication systems

  UAS: communication systems | Future Vertical Lift Maritime Strike (FVL-MS) [USA]

  The Future Vertical Lift Maritime Strike (FVL-MS) programme seeks to develop and acquire a family of systems, including crewed and uncrewed aircraft, to replace rotary life aircraft ...

• UAS: flight control systems

  UAS: flight control systems | Future Vertical Lift Maritime Strike (FVL-MS) [USA]

  The Future Vertical Lift Maritime Strike (FVL-MS) programme seeks to develop and acquire a family of systems, including crewed and uncrewed aircraft, to replace rotary life aircraft ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Future Vertical Lift Maritime Strike (FVL-MS) [USA]

  Programme Background Requirement The FVL-MS programme seeks to develop and acquire a family of systems, including crewed and uncrewed aircraft, to replace rotary life aircraft utilised ...

• Military UAS - small

  Long Range/Long Endurance (LR/LE) [USMC]

  Background Force Design 2030 The USMC Force Design 2030 is a modernisation effort to create a lighter, more agile maritime force. The update to the ...

• Military UAS - small

  RQ-21A Blackjack / STUASLO - Replacement Units (USN)

  Programme Background Joint USN and USMC Procurment The RQ-21 Blackjack, or STUALSO, was a combined United States Navy (USN) and United States Marine Corps (USMC) programme ...

• Military UAS - small

  RQ-21A Blackjack / STUASLO - Replacement Units (USMC)

  Programme Background Joint USN and USMC Procurment The RQ-21 Blackjack, or STUALSO, was a combined United States Navy (USN) and United States Marine Corps (USMC) programme ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Global Fast Sealift [USN]

  At Sea Air Space 2026, Hanwha Ocean and Gibbs and Cox displayed the Global Fast Sealift concept design. The vessel is intended as a next-generation ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Global Fast Sealift [USN]

  At Sea Air Space 2026, Hanwha Ocean and Gibbs and Cox displayed the Global Fast Sealift concept design. The vessel is intended as a next-generation ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Landing craft and hovercraft

  SECAT

  In 2022, Textron Systems unveiled its new Surface Effect Cargo Amphibious Transport (SECAT) craft, designed to support logistics behind the US Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations and ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  MH-53E Sea Dragon

  Sikorsky developed the MH-53E (S-80) Sea Dragon variant of its CH-53E to provide the USN with a dedicated airborne mine countermeasures helicopter. Equipped with enlarged ...

• Air: Integrated cockpit systems

  Tactical Mission System for Helicopter Applications

  The Saab tactical mission system is a system for transport, utility, C2 and combat helicopters intended to operate in a net-centric environment. It is designed ...

• Major networking projects

  CANES

  The Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services (CANES) programme is a USN-wide effort to rationalise shipboard computing assets. It is designed to create a common ...

• Air: UAV simulators

  MQ-9 MTD

  SDS’s ROVATTS-based MQ-9 Mission Training Device (MTD) was developed to provide high-fidelity simulation to support US Air National Guard operational Reaper crew training. The PC-based ...

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

  MQ-8C Fire Scout

  The MQ-8C is a newer version of the Fire Scout and is based on a Bell 407 commercial helicopter. It offers a greater range, endurance and ...

• Land: soldier modernisation systems - national programmes

  MERS

  The Marine Expeditionary Rifle Squad (MERS) takes a systems engineering approach to equipping the USMC’s fundamental fighting unit. The integration and configuration management of all ...

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

  MQ-8B Fire Scout

  The MQ-8B Fire Scout is a rotary-wing UAV that provides situational awareness and precision targeting support for the US Armed Forces. The MQ-8B Fire Scout, ...

• Air: surveillance and maritime patrol radar

  AN/ZPY-1 STARLite

  The AN/ZPY-1 Small Tactical Radar-Lightweight (STARLite) is a synthetic aperture radar and GMTI sensor for UAVs, manufactured by Northrop Grumman. It offers strip and spot synthetic ...

• Fighter - multirole, Fighter - naval

  F-35C

  The F-35C Lightning II, also known as the F-35 carrier variant (CV), is a fifth-generation multirole combat aircraft in carrier configuration. It has larger wings and ...

• 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 ...

• Guided munitions

  AGM-154 JSOW

  The AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) is a joint United States Navy (USN)/United States Air Force (USAF) programme with the USN as the lead service. ...

• Air: mission management systems

  Air Operations Systems of Systems

  Air Operations System of Systems is designed to enable management of airspaces across large states and/or regions focusing on strategic planning. The system integration approach ...

• Trainer

  Saab 340 trainer

  The Saab 340 trainer aircraft is based on the Saab 340 regional airliner. It is used by the USN for pilot training. The aircraft replaced ...

• Major networking projects

  DIB 1.3

  The Distributed Common Ground System (DCGS) Integration Backbone (DIB) is a key element of the US DoD strategy to build a net-centric capability, enabling service DCGS elements ...