• Defence Notes

  North Korean parade shows massive investment in military weapons

  14th October 2020

  North Korea’s military held a spectacular night-time parade on 10 October to mark the 75th anniversary of the Workers’ Party of Korea. Amidst a dazzling …

• Land Warfare

  DoD awards IM-SHORAD contract as US Army awaits next phase of Lethality Upgrade

  7th October 2020

  IM-SHORAD is needed now more than ever to combat near-peer adversary threats; meanwhile the US Army is looking for options on the Medium Caliber Weapon System

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Experiment enables soldiers and aircrew to partner with smart machines

  24th September 2020

  Scientists from the UK’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) have overseen an experiment to see how humans and the new generation of smart machines …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Hermes takes flight off the UK coast

  11th September 2020

  Elbit Systems announced on 11 September that its Hermes 900 MALE UAV has successfully completed a series of flight demonstrations for the UK Maritime and Coastguard …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Northrop integrates more systems on MQ-8C

  9th September 2020

  Northrop Grumman obtained an $11.64 million order from US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) on 8 September, to provide non-recurring engineering for qualification testing and …

• Digital Battlespace

  NATO experts develop ARTEMIS for sUAS detection

  4th September 2020

  A team at the NATO Communications and Information (NCI) Agency has built an experimental prototype to detect, identify and localise small UASs (sUASs) using low-cost …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Thunderstorm interrupts MQ-25 testing

  14th September 2020

  An unexpected thunderstorm has caused disruption to Boeing’s MQ-25 Stingray flight test plans. Test asset T1, a predecessor to four MQ-25 EDM aircraft due to …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Australia homes in on new ASW target

  16th September 2020

  The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) will receive Saab’s AUV62-AT anti-submarine warfare target under an A$11 million ($8.07 million) deal, while elsewhere research is taking place …

• Land Warfare

  British Army receives first batch of vehicles under Ajax programme

  30th July 2020

  After experiencing delays to the Ajax programme, the British Army has announced the delivery of the first batch of vehicles.The six Ares variants were handed over to …

• Naval Warfare

  Underwater threat attracts Israeli attention

  3rd September 2020

  Israel is intent on developing and procuring new technologies to counter underwater threats to its vessels, merchant ships and natural gas infrastructure in the Mediterranean. …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Northrop closes in on international Firebird order

  21st August 2020

  Northrop Grumman has revealed it is preparing to announce a new Firebird optionally piloted MALE ISR aircraft order for an international customer. Negotiations are under …

• Land Warfare

  Latest BMP-3 upgrade includes increased protection and firepower

  1st September 2020

  Russian manufacturer Kurganmashzavod unveiled the BMP-3M Manul, the latest heavily upgraded version of the BMP-3 IFV, at the Army 2020 exhibition near Moscow on 23-29 …

• Land Warfare

  LMUK expects to seal Warrior deal next year

  20th July 2020

  Lockheed Martin UK (LMUK) expects to sign a £800 million ($1 billion) sole-source contract in 2021 for the Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme (WCSP).  Currently, the …

• Digital Battlespace

  SRC to carry on support for Medusa programme

  25th August 2020

  SRC is continuing its involvement with the USAF Medusa programme under a maximum $90 million sole-source contract, the DoD announced on 24 August. The deal …

• Land Warfare

  Armies seek to accelerate autonomous tech developments

  20th August 2020

  In order to be ready for the battlefield of the future, armed forces around the world are increasing efforts and investing more resources to procure …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

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

  Combat Air Teaming System (CATS) Warrior [India]

  Programme Background Make In India The 'Make In India' is an initiative by the Indian government to grow the domestic manufacturing industry. In the context ...

• Military UAS - small

  Black Hornet 3 PRS (UK)

  Programme Background The British Army operated approximately 160 first-generation Black Hornet PD-100 nano UAS between 2013 and 2017, when the decision was made to retire ...

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

  Naval Collaborative Combat Air Vehicle (N-CCAV) [India]

  Programme Background CATS Warrior The Combat Air Teaming System (CATS) is a planned, uncrewed and crewed family of aircraft in development by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited ...

• Military UAS - small

  Bug Nano UAS (UK)

  Programme Background The British Army previously took delivery of 160 first-generation Black Hornet PD-100 nano UAS in 2013 to support operations in Afghanistan. After these ...

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

  Orbiter 3 (Croatia)

  Programme Background The Croatian government launched a competitive tender for the procurement of a short-range UAV in October 2017. Although the tender was opened on ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8, APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Bulldog FV432 Mk 3 Replacement [UK]

  Programme Background Requirement Serving in several iterations since 1963, the FV432 Mk3 'Bulldog' remains operational and deployed as command vehicles, ambulances, and recovery vehicles within the British Army. Although ...

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

  MQ-1 Gray Eagle [US Army]

  Programme Background Required Quantity Although the US Army first envisioned a requirement for 132 MQ-1C Gray Eagles, the US Army's Army Acquisition Objective (AAO) was ...

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

  AR100-H [Germany]

  Programme Background In May 2022, it was announced that 145 AR100-H drones would be supplied to the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr). At the time of ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Boxer MIV [UK]

  Programme Background History The UK MoD announced in March 2018 that it would re-join the Boxer programme and pursue a sole-source acquisition of the 8x8 ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | New Generation Minehunters/Offshore (NGM/A) (1-4) [Italy]

  The Italian Navy is procuring twelve new multi-purpose mine countermeasures (MCM) vessels under the Cacciamine Nuova Generazione (CNG) programme. The programme includes coastal-going units (NGM/C) ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | New Generation Minehunters/Offshore (NGM/A) (1-4) [Italy]

  The Italian Navy is procuring twelve new multi-purpose mine countermeasures (MCM) vessels under the Cacciamine Nuova Generazione (CNG) programme. The programme includes coastal-going units (NGM/C) ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Ermine (Ukraine Aid) [Netherlands]

  Programme Background Since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Western governments have sought to provide as much assistance as possible to the Ukrainian ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | New Generation Minehunters/Coastal (NGM/C) (1-5) [Italy]

  The Italian Navy is procuring twelve new multi-purpose mine countermeasures (MCM) vessels under the Cacciamine Nuova Generazione (CNG) programme. The programme includes coastal-going units (NGM/C) ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AH-X [Japan]

  There is no mention of the AH-X in the 2019-2023 Medium Term Defence Plan, so it is possible that the requirement has quietly been postponed. ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  R600A (RTMC)

  Programme Background The Royal Thai Marine Corps (RTMC) has a requirement for new amphibious APCs that have higher capacity and offer greater protection than its ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military - USVs

  SHARC

  The Sensor Hosting Autonomous Remote Craft (SHARC) wave glider platform is a JV developed between Boeing and Liquid Robotics. The SHARC is able to deliver ...

• Land: soldier modernisation systems - industry programmes

  Warrior Systems

  General Dynamics Mission Systems is prime contractor and system integrator for the US Army’s Warrior soldier systems, which include Air Warrior, Future Force Warrior, Land Warrior ...

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

  NRQ-21

  Insitu displayed the NRQ-21 Integrator at the Unmanned Warrior 2016 event in Wales. The aircraft has been designed to carry out tasks on land and ...

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

  Outlaw SeaHunter

  Outlaw UAVs are used by military and research agencies for training, testing, data collection and system development. In the 114-137kg maximum take-off weight class, SeaHunter ...

• Land: soldier modernisation systems - industry programmes

  Mounted Warrior

  Mounted Warrior will provide an integrated system-of-systems ensemble designed to improve the survivability, lethality and combat effectiveness of armoured vehicle crewmen. The system leverages capabilities ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Warrior

  The Warrior IFV entered service with the British Army in mid-1987. A total of 789 vehicles were delivered in IFV, infantry command, anti-tank, recovery, repair, ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  MIHDS

  The Modular Integrated Helmet Display System (MIHDS) is designed and developed jointly by General Dynamics Mission Systems, USA and Microvision Inc. The system's SD2500 design ...

• Military - USVs

  MAST

  The Maritime Autonomy Surface Testbed (MAST) was developed by ASV Global and Roke Manor Research under funding from the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory. It ...

• Land: soldier modernisation systems - national programmes

  Warrior 2020

  Finland’s Warrior 2020 programme is focused on improving individual soldier equipment in the five capability areas defined by NATO: C4I, lethality, mobility, survivability and sustainability. Warrior ...

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

  CATS Warrior

  Manufactured by the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the Combat Air Teaming System (CATS) Warrior is a medium-altitude long-endurance UAS part of the CATS family ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  MUBC

  The Modular Universal Battery Charger (MUBC) is a scalable charging system for a range of military and commercial batteries. It provides for the addition of ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  OH-58D Kiowa Warrior

  The OH-58D Kiowa Warrior is a two-person, light scout helicopter with a day/night mast-mounted sight, glass cockpit and four-bladed rotor system. Following the retirement of ...

• Land: Defensive Systems - Gunshot Detection / Hostile Fire Indicator

  Boomerang Warrior-X

  Boomerang Warrior-X combines acoustic processing technology with lightweight hardware to provide a proven shooter detection system for the dismounted soldier. The Warrior-X system is designed ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  MD 530F Cayuse Warrior

  An evolution of the OH-6 Cayuse light observation helicopter, the MD 530F was initially Federal Aviation Administration-certified in July 1985 as the Model 369FF. It ...

• UAS: Integrated systems - uncrewed

  Athena 511

  The Athena 511 is a compact all-in-one GPS-aided INS air data system. The system’s integrated inertial sensing uses a tactical grade, ring-laser gyro IMU, with ...