• Air Warfare

  Royal Air Force begins training on new Protector remotely piloted aircraft system

  10th May 2023

  The Royal Air Force has started training its first cohort of pilots, sensor operators and mission intelligence coordinators on operating its new Protector at General Atomics' Flight Test & Training Centre in the US.

• Air Warfare

  MQ-28 Ghost Bat ‘could fit the bill’ for UK's Loyal Wingman capability needs, says Boeing

  26th May 2023

  The affordability of the MQ-28A Ghost Bat will play a crucial role in determining its suitability for the UK's defence needs. With studies under way to determine the affordability threshold, discussions also focus on the contribution this capability could make to the domestic industrial base.

• Naval Warfare

  South Korea launches first of Chungnam-class frigates

  10th April 2023

  South Korea has launched the first of a new class of frigate for the ROK Navy.

• Land Warfare

  Moldovan defence gets boost from European Union funding

  9th May 2023

  A new financial assistance package from the European Union will help Moldova improve its airspace surveillance capabilities as missiles from the Ukraine conflict continue to pass over the country's territory.

• Defence Notes

  IMDEX 2023: MBDA and PGZ partnership includes ‘deep industrial cooperation’ on CAMM-ER

  6th May 2023

  MBDA has confirmed that work with Poland on land and maritime air defence includes cooperation on the extended-range version of the Common Anti-Air Modular Missile (CAMM), known as CAMM-ER.

• Air Warfare

  India seeks additional armaments for MH-60R fleet

  6th April 2023

  Additional missiles and torpedoes are on the cards to equip India's incoming fleet of MH-60R multi-mission helicopters.

• Land Warfare

  Estonia, Latvia kick off joint procurement of Iris-T air defence missiles

  24th May 2023

  Estonia and Latvia have selected the Diehl IRIS-T as their preferred solution for the joint procurement of a medium-range air defence system.

• Air Warfare

  Norway to receive three F-35 fighters this week, while new operator gets ready to join the programme

  10th May 2023

  Lockheed Martin is set to deliver three F-35A fighters to Norway this week as the company prepares to integrate an undisclosed customer into the fifth-generation fighter programme.

• Naval Warfare

  Buy more subs, urges Norwegian Defence Chief

  7th June 2023

  The Norwegian Chief of Defence has recommended the Scandinavian country procure more submarines in a report to the government about the future shape of its armed forces.

• Training

  US Army to use customised QinetiQ Banshee Jet 80+ target for training

  18th May 2023

  QinetiQ's MQM-185B target, based on the Banshee Jet 80+, aims to provide the US Army with hyper-realistic training capabilities.

• Training

  Landmarc Support Services secures £560 million contract to manage UK training estate

  15th May 2023

  The UK's Defence Infrastructure Organisation has awarded Landmarc Support Services a £560 million contract to provide facilities and rural estate management across the UK Defence Training Estate.

• Training

  BMT secures contract to provide specialised training for Royal Navy aircraft carrier personnel

  16th May 2023

  BMT will deploy an advanced five-bridge immersive training simulator to help train the UK's aircraft carrier crew for complex manoeuvres and other tasks.

• Air Warfare

  Germany announces phasing out of Tiger combat helicopters by 2038, introducing H145M fleet

  15th May 2023

  Germany plans to retire its Tiger combat helicopters by 2038, citing technical problems, and replace them with an Airbus H145M fleet to meet NATO commitments.

• Defence Helicopter

  Uruguay's African peacekeepers to receive new support helicopter

  12th May 2023

  The donation of a utility helicopter by the UA will increase the Uruguayan peacekeeping deployment’s air support capabilities in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

• Naval Warfare

  Future Naval Strike Missile to have land and sea attack capabilities

  25th May 2023

  A joint Norwegian-German project to develop a Future Naval Strike Missile (FNSM) will produce a weapon with both sea and land strike capabilities, Shephard understands.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - mini

  Action Plan of the Georgian Defence Force (FlyEye) [Georgia]

  Programme Background Action Plan of the Georgian Defence Forces 2020-30 In July 2021, the Georgian Minister of Defence, Juansher Burchuladze, outlined the country's military modernisation plan. ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Gryf [Poland]

  Background Requirements The Polish Ministry of Defence (MoD) identified the need for several ingeniously produced UAVs to provide ISTAR and strike capabilities for its armed forces ...

• Main battle tanks

  Wilk [Poland]

  Background The Wilk programme was included in the Polish MoDs Technical Modernisation Plan of the Polish Armed Forces for 2021-2035. It was primarily aimed at ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A (1-32) [Poland]

  Background Requirement In September 2019, the US State Department approved a possible FMS for up to 32 F-35A to Poland, which translated into a contract ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - mini

  Force Protection Drone Systems [Poland]

  Background Force Protection In November 2024, the Polish Defence Ministry's Armaments Agency signed a PLN 499 million (US$127.6 million) agreement with WB Group for 12 Force Protection drone ...

• Military UAS - mini

  FlyEye (Framework Agreement) (Uncontracted) [Poland]

  Background Pre-2023 contracts Across three orders, one in the early 2010s, another in December 2018 and another in February 2022, the Polish Territorial Defence Force ...

• Main battle tanks

  K2 Black Panther (Phase 1) [Poland]

  Background Requirement Poland's K2 purchase is the successor of the Wilk programme which aimed to replace the country's Soviet-era T-72 and PT-91 MBTs with a modern ...

• Frigates

  Miecznik (Swordfish) Programme (1-3) [Poland]

  Background Polish Armament Group is a consortium that was tasked with the development of the Miecnik class coastal defence vessels for the Polish Navy. Known ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Zefir (Uncontracted) [Poland]

  Programme Background Inception The Zefir programme required a MALE UCAV with an operating radius of up to 1000km. In 2018, Defence24 reported that Poland could ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  NBPWP Borsuk [Poland]

  Background Programme requirements One of the highest priority equipment procurement programmes for the Polish MoD is the procurement of a new, NATO-standard platform to replace ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Serwal Wheeled Armoured Vehicle [Poland]

  Background The existence of the Serwal programme was first revealed in May 2020, when the Secretary of State at the Polish MoD informed the Polish ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Zefir (Contracted) [Poland]

  Programme Background Inception The Zefir programme required a MALE UCAV with an operating radius of up to 1000km. In 2018, Defence24 reported that Poland could procure ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Bayraktar TB2 [Poland]

  Programme Background Requirement Under the Gryf programme, the Polish MoD identified the need for an indigenously produced MALE UAV to provide ISTAR and strike capabilities at ...

• Loitering munitions

  Gladius (2026) [Poland]

  Background 2022 Contract award In May 2022, Poland announced the signing of a PLN2 billion ($450 million) procurement contract for the supply of four Gladius batteries. ...

• Military UAS - mini

  FlyEye (Framework Agreement) (Contracted) [Poland]

  Background Pre-2023 contracts Across three orders, one in the early 2010s, another in December 2018 and another in February 2022, the Polish Territorial Defence Force ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - tactical

  PGZ-19R

  The PGZ-19R is a low-altitude, short-range tactical fixed-wing UAV. Based on the E-310 demonstrator, the platform has been designed to carry ISR sensors, search and rescue and ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  AW149

  The AgustaWestland 'AW149' is an 8t-class multirole battlefield helicopter developed by AgustaWestland (now Leonardo) launched in 2006, making its maiden voyage in 2009. For combat ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Krab

  Poland selected a modified version of the BAE Systems AS90M Braveheart 155mm/52cal turret to meet its requirement for a new SPH. Poland’s HSW is prime ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  BMP-1

  The BMP-1 (Bronevaya Maschina Piekhota-1) is a tracked amphibious IFV that was developed in the Soviet Union during the 1960s.  Entering service with the Soviet ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM, Naval: Radio and SATCOM

  R&S M3SR Series4400

  Rohde & Schwarz M3SR Series4400 is a VHF/UHF radio system designed for stationary and shipborne applications. It offers several proprietary frequency-hopping waveforms as well as data link ...

• EO/IR systems

  LRF Mod 4EC/6EC

  The Mod 4EC and Mod 6EC were designed specifically for remotely operated small platforms. The modules can be attached to Mini-Typhoon, CLAWS and other systems ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  SW-4

  The SW-4 is a light, single-engine, multi-mission helicopter designed to carry up to five people (pilots included) and to be operated during the day and ...

• Light attack, Trainer

  FA-50

  Based on the T/TA-50 trainer/light attack aircraft, the FA-50 is further developed and upgraded with a tactical data link, precision-guided munitions, and a self-protection subsystem. ...

• ISR/special mission, Maritime patrol

  A320neo M3A

  Currently under development by Airbus, the A320 M3A is the Maritime Patrol version of the civilian A320neo aircraft. The aircraft can be fitted with a wide ...

• Military UAS - mini

  FlyEye

  WB Group manufactures the FlyEye, a hand-launched mini-UAS designed to provide reconnaissance capabilities.  With a modular configuration and the ability to host multiple payloads, the Polish ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  AN/SQQ-89

  The AN/SQQ-89 is an ASW combat system incorporates and processes all the sonar information and LAMPS sensor data. Manufactured by Lockheed Martin, there are currently ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  R35010

  The Radmor R35010 personal role radio is a handheld, lightweight radio intended to operate in a small radio network between combat team members.  The R35010 ...

• Ship-launched torpedoes, Submarine-launched torpedoes

  Mk-48 Mod 6AT ADCAP

  The Mk-48 ADCAP (Advanced Capability) is the improved version of the Mk-48 family. Development started with the Mk-48 Mod 5 and continues to the present ...

• Land: RWS

  ZSSW-30

  The ZSSW-30 is an unmanned turret developed by a consortium of Huta Stalowa Wola (HSW) and WB Electronics. Armed with a 30mm cannon, 7.62mm coaxial machine ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  LTMPAV Dino 519

  The Dino 519 is a light tactical multi-purpose armored vehicle (LTMPAV) developed by Team Concept, a Poland-based armored vehicle manufacturer.