• Training

  Australian, Bruneian forces train together

  10th December 2019

  Australian and Bruneian land forces have completed joint training during Exercise Mallee Bull at Gallipoli Barracks, the Australian Department of Defence announced on 9 December. …

• Defence Helicopter

  US Air Force readies for MH-139A arrival

  16th December 2019

  The US Air Force is set to accept its first MH-139A helicopter on 19 December at Duke Field, Florida. The MH-139A will replace the US …

• Defence Notes

  Podcast: I/ITSEC 2019 highlights, the V-22 Osprey topping the 500,000 flight hour milestone and more

  6th December 2019

  Welcome to Episode 46 of The Weekly Defence Podcast. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and more. Sign up to an early email alert of future podcasts here.

• Military Logistics

  Netherlands receives first Leguan bridge systems

  11th December 2019

  Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) has delivered the first two Leguan bridge laying systems to the Dutch Defence Materiel Organisation, the company announced on 10 December. The …

• Digital Battlespace

  Leidos awarded GSM-O II contract

  12th December 2019

  Leidos has been awarded an IDIQ contract worth up to $6.5 billion for Global Solutions Management – Operations II, to manage the US Department of …

• Training

  RAAF retires PC-9/A fleet

  13th December 2019

  The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has officially retired its PC-9/A fleet after more than 30 years of flying operations. The aircraft has provided the …

• Naval Warfare

  New P-8A arrives at RAAF Base Edinburgh

  13th December 2019

  The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has received its twelfth and final P-8A Poseidon at RAAF Base Edinburgh. The P-8A Poseidon and the MQ-4C Triton …

• Defence Helicopter

  First modified MV-22 Osprey delivered to USMC

  11th December 2019

  Boeing and Bell Textron have delivered the first modified MV-22 Osprey to the US Marine Corps (USMC). Bell Boeing is upgrading block B aircraft to …

• Land Warfare

  The JGSDF selects a new rifle and pistol

  12th December 2019

  The Japanese MoD announced the selection results from separate competitions for a new rifle and pistol for the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) on 6 …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2019: Editors' highlights of the week (video)

  9th December 2019

  As I/ITSEC 2019 drew to a close, Shephard's Editor Richard Thomas, MTSN Editor Trevor Nash and VP Content Tony Skinner discussed their highlights from the …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  German armed UAV plans spiked by parliament

  20th December 2019

  The German parliament has voted to reject a motion to purchase armed drones for the country’s armed forces, it confirmed in a 20 December statement. …

• Land Warfare

  Indonesian army presents its shopping list

  5th December 2019

  The Indonesian military operates on five-year procurement cycles, and Phase 3 of its modernisation programme will occur from 2020-24. As the Indonesian Army (TNI-AD) looks …

• Digital Battlespace

  Czech Republic to acquire Iron Dome

  6th December 2019

  On 5 December the International Cooperation Directorate of the Israel Ministry of Defense (SIBAT), signed an agreement with the Czech Ministry of Defence, awarding IAI …

• Defence Notes

  Baltic nations advance BALTNET

  6th December 2019

  The Lithuanian Ministry of Defence confirmed on 3 December that the scheduled re-structure of the Baltic Air Surveillance Network or BALTNET will see the activation …

• Defence Notes

  NATO shakes off infighting amid public rifts

  3rd December 2019

  NATO has insisted it is continuing to deliver on its defence commitments despite public comments from partner nations that suggest a number of high-profile disagreements …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Fighter - multirole

  Combat Fighter Jet [Ireland]

  Programme Background  In February 2025, the Irish Minister for Defence and Tánaiste Simon Harris highlighted Irelands need to procure a new combat fighter jet to combat ...

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

  Polish Drones (Ukraine Aid) [Sweden]

  Background Swedish Support Package On 31 March 2025, the Swedish Government presented its 19th and largest military support package to Ukraine to date, valued at almost SEK ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | A400M (forecast) [United Kingdom]

  In April 2025, the Ministry of Defence confirmed that as part of the Strategic Defence Review is reviewing a potential purchase of additional A400M Atlas ...

• Data links

  Data links | A400M (forecast) [United Kingdom]

  In April 2025, the Ministry of Defence confirmed that as part of the Strategic Defence Review is reviewing a potential purchase of additional A400M Atlas ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | A400M (forecast) [United Kingdom]

  In April 2025, the Ministry of Defence confirmed that as part of the Strategic Defence Review is reviewing a potential purchase of additional A400M Atlas ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Landing Craft Utility (LCU) [Japan]

  According to the 2022 Defence Buildup Programme, Japan will procure new Landing Craft Utility (LCUs). This was already specified in the Medium Term Defence Programme (FY2019 ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Landing Craft Utility (LCU) [Japan]

  According to the 2022 Defence Buildup Programme, Japan will procure new Landing Craft Utility (LCUs). This was already specified in the Medium Term Defence Programme (FY2019 ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Landing Craft Utility (LCU)/Small Transport Vessels (1-4) [Japan]

  According to the 2022 Defence Buildup Programme, Japan will procure new Landing Craft Utility (LCUs). This was already specified in the Medium Term Defence Programme (FY2019 ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Landing Craft Utility (LCU)/Small Transport Vessels (1-4) [Japan]

  According to the 2022 Defence Buildup Programme, Japan will procure new Landing Craft Utility (LCUs). This was already specified in the Medium Term Defence Programme (FY2019 ...

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

  Harpia [Uruguay]

  Background Acquisition In March 2025, South American media reported that the Uruguayan Air Force (FAU) had deployed the Harpia UAV, which it had purchased from Advanced Technologies ...

• Military UAS - small

  Small UAV [Peru]

  Background UAV FAP UAV FAP is a family of Peruvian UAVs that have been developed by the Peruvian Air Force and the Centre for Research ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Naval UAV [Chile]

  Background Unsuccessful evaluations  In the early 2010s, the Chilean Navy reportedly tested the ScanEagle. However, the force’s requirements appeared to change, due to the organisation’s ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Boxer (Skyranger) [Germany]

  Programme Background The SPD-led approach Since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Germany has been under consistent pressure to increase its defence spending. In the ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Manoeuvrable Boats [Japan]

  According to the 2022 Defence Buildup Programme, Japan will procure new manoeuvrable boats for the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force (JGSDF). Deliveries are set to start ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Manoeuvrable Boats [Japan]

  According to the 2022 Defence Buildup Programme, Japan will procure new manoeuvrable boats for the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force (JGSDF). Deliveries are set to start ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Land: RWS

  FeWaS 80

  The FeWaS 80 (Fernbedienbare Waffen Station 80kg – Remotely Controlled Weapon Station 80kg) was originally developed alongside the heavier FeWaS 120 to meet a requirement from ...

• Individual assault/anti-tank weapons

  RGW 60

  Dynamit Nobel developed the Recoilless Grenade Weapon 60mm (RGW 60) for special operations, airborne and other light forces which require a compact, lightweight assault weapon. ...

• Land: RWS

  Dual FeWaS

  The Dual FeWaS is an RWS designed to be installed on medium and heavy AFVs. It is armed with two weapons consisting of either a ...

• Individual assault/anti-tank weapons

  Enforcer

  MBDA has been developing the Enforcer since 2014 to provide a shoulder-launched precision missile system  that is able to defeat lightly armoured and soft-skinned targets ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  ACSV G5

  The Armoured Combat Support Vehicle G5 (ACSV), formerly the PMMC G5, is a tracked armoured personnel carrier (APC) intended to replace vehicles such as the M113 ...

• Land: RWS

  FeWAS 120

  The FeWaS 120 (Fernbedienbare Waffen Station 120kg – Remotely Controlled Weapon Station 120kg) was originally developed alongside the lighter FeWaS 80 to meet a requirement from ...

• Land: RWS

  Samson Mini

  The Samson Mini is one of the lightest members of the Samson RWS family. It is a dual-axis, gyrostabilised RWS designed for use on vehicles, ...

• Major networking projects

  Missile Defence

  In 2010, NATO rolled out an initial capability to protect alliance forces against missile threats and is now examining options for protecting territory and populations. ...

• Major networking projects

  Defence Architecture Framework

  BAE Systems is developing a broad base of systems architecture expertise to execute network-centric warfare projects on behalf of the Australian Defence Force. This is ...

• Major networking projects

  Ballistic Missile Defence

  In early 2010, NATO acquired the first phase of an initial theatre ballistic missile defence capability to protect alliance forces. 

• Naval: RF/IR/acoustic decoys

  Krait Defence System

  Krait Defence System is a flexible, scalable and modular anti-submarine warfare solution by the British SEA. It includes a family of products from stand-alone KraitArray ...

• Short Range Missile Defence Systems: 0 to 20 km range

  NOMADS Air Defence

  Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace developed the National Manoeuvre Air Defence System (NOMADS) to address the increasing need for mobile, adaptable air defence systems capable of ...

• Medium Range Missile Defence Systems: 20-90km range

  NASAMS Air Defence System

  The National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) is a medium-range, network-centric air defence system developed collaboratively by RTX Corporation. Designed to engage a variety of ...

• Land: coastal surveillance radars

  905A Coast Defence Radar

  The 905A Coast Defence Radar is a mobile, one-dimensional, phased-array coastal surveillance radar designed by Norinco.  It is intended for panoramic coastline monitoring, low-altitude target detection, ...

• Major networking projects

  Air and Missile Defence

  NATO Air and Missile Defence comprises all measures aimed at monitoring and reacting to potential air threats in NATO airspace, as well as countering hostile ...