• Air Warfare

  QinetiQ wins $14 million contract to supply Vindicator drones to US Navy

  14th January 2025

  The five-year contract is reportedly the largest provision of uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) support for use by the US Navy (USN) and will run until late 2029.

• Naval Warfare

  Avalon 2025: Kongsberg confirms its first Australian missile factory

  31st March 2025

  The deal, which has been planned since August 2024, is part of an ongoing attempt to bolster Australia’s defences against the potential of Chinese aggression.

• Air Warfare

  Poland approved for another buy of AMRAAMs under $1.3 billion deal

  30th April 2025

  The deal is for 400 AIM-120D-3 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM). It increases the stocks the country already has and follows a US$1.7 billion order for 745 missiles approved in March last year.

• Land Warfare

  Roke unveils new portable EW system

  9th May 2025

  Roke’s EM-Vis Deceive has been designed to be modular, open-standards based and mission configurable, and can be carried by a single soldier.

• Air Warfare

  UK bets big on drone investment and boosts its drone deliveries to Ukraine tenfold

  4th June 2025

  The £4 billion domestic funding package will go towards the development of autonomous and uncrewed aerial systems and was announced in the wake of the publication of the UK Strategic Defence Review.

• Air Warfare

  Avalon 2025: RAAF looks beyond 10 years to when future deliveries may restart

  31st March 2025

  The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has been substantially refreshed in the past two decades including F-35A and F/A-18F fighter aircraft, as well as the addition of transport aircraft such as C-17s, C-130 variants and C-27Js. Additional aircraft may only be a medium-term prospect.

• Digital Battlespace

  US Space Force’s next-generation missile warning system moves forward with $500 million in new contracts

  7th May 2025

  Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (Next-Gen OPIR) satellites are intended to provide early warning of missile launches from any location worldwide and new ground stations will result in expanded coverage of critical missile warning.

• Air Warfare

  Tiltrotor: The Long-Range Maneuver Solution

  25th February 2025

  If competition turns to conflict, the United States, along with its allies and partners, must be prepared to confront peer and near-peer competitors capable of achieving parity in military capability.

• Naval Warfare

  How powerful is the US fleet of nuclear submarines compared to Russian capabilities?

  7th August 2025

  Although both countries still operate Cold War-era platforms, they possess capable nuclear-powered and armed submarines and are investing in the development of new, advanced capabilities.

• Land Warfare

  US Army awards RTX Raytheon follow-on contract for the RCADE modelling and simulation capability

  24th March 2025

  The agreement covers the establishment of a continuous experimentation environment.

• Land Warfare

  Modern militaries crawl towards electrification of the battlefield

  12th March 2025

  Full electrification of their land and air vehicles may be beyond modern militaries for now. But how close are they to the tipping point of the widespread use of electric vehicles?

• Naval Warfare

  Japan orders first upgraded Mogami-class frigates for the JMSDF

  26th May 2025

  The JMSDF has commissioned the seventh Mogami-class ship as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries advances upgraded frigates and supply vessels.

• Air Warfare

  Italian Army receives first UH-169D light utility helicopter

  30th April 2025

  The delivery is the first in a total of 25 helicopters on order, with all deliveries expected to be completed by 2027.

• Land Warfare

  What does the future hold for North Korean troops in Ukraine?

  3rd February 2025

  Various questions remain unanswered regarding the presence of North Korean troops in Ukraine.

• Land Warfare

  GDLS plans to deliver prototype armed Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle in 2025

  4th February 2025

  General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) is building the Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV) Command, Control, Communications, Computers/Uncrewed Aerial Systems (C4/UAS) for the US Marine Corps (USMC). Approximately 500 ARV 30mm autocannon (ARV-30) are expected to be procured by the USMC.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military helicopters - light/training

  Future Aircrew Training Program [Canada]

  Background The FAcT requires to graduate 120 pilots, 40 combat systems officers and 36 airborne electronic sensor operators per year with 15% fluctuation. Training services are ...

• Trainer

  Future Aircrew Training Program [Canada]

  Background Requirement The new procurement will result in one contract covering all the requirements, including maintenance and infrastructure services. Canada’s Industrial and Technological Benefits Policy ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  AW101-Norway

  AgustaWestland is also providing initial support and training services, including spares at each of the operating bases and aircrew training. It will then provide performance ...

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

  V-SHORAD [Canada]

  Background The Canadian Army's future GBAD system "will provide tactical air defence protection to friendly forces and vital installations during expeditionary and domestic operations against ...

• Loitering munitions

  Switchblade 300/600 [Canada]

  Background Contract award In February 2025, the Canadian government finalised a $67-million deal with AeroVironment (AV) to acquire the Switchblade 300 and Switchblade 600 to equip ...

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

  Uplift SHORAD UOR [Canada]

  Background The Canadian Army's future GBAD system "will provide tactical air defence protection to friendly forces and vital installations during expeditionary and domestic operations against the ...

• Trainer

  Hawk 127 Replacement (Future Lead-In Fighter Training System- Project Air 6002 PH1) [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirements The RAAF is seeking a future solution that provides a ‘relevant, adaptable, affordable and safe LIFTS out to 2050’ for training pilots ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-15EX (2020) [USA]

  Programme Background The F-15EX is based on the 2-seat F-15QA (Qatar) configuration upgraded with USAF-only capabilities, including the Eagle Passive Active Warning and Survivability System (EPAWSS) ...

• Loitering munitions

  Loitering munitions [Canada]

  Background Switchblade acquisition In February 2025, the Canadian government finalised a $67 million deal with AeroVironment (AV) to acquire the Switchblade 300 and Switchblade 600 ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Inkas M1 MRAP (Batch 2) [Canada]

  Background In 2026, Canada acquired 10 Inkas M1 MRAPs. The M1 was developed by Inkas to provide a domestic Canadian armoured 4x4 capability.  Shephard understands ...

• Destroyers

  Canadian Surface Combatant/River Class (1-3) [Canada]

  Background Requirements Fifteen frigates are being procured to replace the Royal Canadian Navy's 12 ageing Halifax-class frigates and the now-retired Iroquois-class destroyers with next-generation surface ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) [Canada]

  Background Programme inception The Royal Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF) Joint Unmanned Surveillance and Target Acquisition System (JUSTAS) project was established to procure a UAS for the ...

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

  RBS-70 NG [Canada]

  Background In February 2024 Canada announced its intention to urgently procure the RBS-70 NG short-range air defence system (SHORAD).  Saab was awarded a $227 million ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Armoured Combat Support Vehicle (Ukraine Aid) [Canada]

  Background The ACSV will meet the Canadian Army's requirement for a new armoured vehicle with greater mobility, operating range, protection and operational versatility than the ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  HH-60W - Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH)

  Background In 2010, the USAF announced the replacement of the HH-60G with a new Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH), and in 2012, the request for proposals ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Trainer

  Phenom 100

  Phenom 100 is a very light jet originally developed for single owner-pilot operation but later gained popularity as a jet trainer aircraft. The platform first ...

• Trainer

  T-6A/B Texan II

  The T-6 Texan II is a single-engine trainer aircraft, which was developed from the Pilatus PC-9 to meet the training requirements of USAF and USN ...

• EW test systems

  EWITR

  The EW Instrumented Training Range (EWITR) provides threat radar simulators and master control stations for aircrew training in tactics development using modelling and simulation, and ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  T-38C Talon

  FlightSafety supports nearly 40 T-38 training devices as part of its contract for logistics support for the T-38. The T-38C is a converted T-38A/B that ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  HATS

  In October 2014, the Australian government approved a A$700 million (US$530 million) contract award to Boeing Defence Australia, teamed with Thales Australia, to provide the ...

• Air: transport/tanker simulators

  USAF KC-135 ATS

  The KC-135 Aircrew Training System (ATS) programme delivers initial qualification, requalification, continuation and upgrades training for USAF KC-135 aircrews, including pilots, co-pilots and boom operators. ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  USN T-44C Training Services

  In late 2013, CAE USA received a contract to provide the USN with comprehensive T-44C aircrew training services at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas. CAE USA ...

• Trainer

  Beechcraft King Air 260 (T-54A)

  The Beechcraft King Air 260 is a twin-engine turboprop which the USN has selected as part of the Multi-Engine Training System (METS) programme. Ten aircraft were ...

• Air: transport/tanker simulators

  C-130J MATS

  Lockheed Martin’s C-130J Maintenance and Aircrew Training System (MATS) programme provides a range of training devices and support services including aircrew instruction, operations, contractor logistics ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  HITS-A

  Collins Aerospace is the prime contractor designing and developing the first integrated aircrew training systems for the E-2D, leading the Hawkeye Integrated Training System for ...

• Air: transport/tanker simulators

  KC-46A ATS

  FlightSafety supports the USAF aircrew training program for the KC-46A Pegasus tanker aircraft. The program delivers a multi-faceted training package to the USAF from design, ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  RCAF CC-130J Training Services

  CAE is the prime contractor for the Operational Training Systems Provider (OTSP) programme to support the 17-strong CC-130J fleet in RCAF service. The first OTSP ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  Tiger Aircrew Training

  Thales provides Tiger aircrew training solutions for the armed forces in Australia, France and Germany. Thales is currently upgrading the systems under the Tiger aircrew training ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  US Army Flight School XXI OFT/RCTD

  L3Harris Technologies is a major subcontractor to CSC on the US Army’s Flight School XXI (FSXXI) programme. L3Harris Technologies has built or is under contract ...

• Air: fixed-wing flight simulators

  NVTS/NVGTS

  The Night Vision Training System (NVTS) combines academic instruction with interactive demonstrations to optimise a pilot's ability to see at night without the use of ...