• Naval Warfare

  India opens Naval Air Enclave

  11th October 2016

  A new Naval Air Enclave (NAE) has been opened at Cochin International Airport (CIAL), India, the national Ministry of Defence announced on 5 October. The …

• Naval Warfare

  Saab, MESKO sign Polish support agreement

  10th October 2016

  Saab has signed a teaming agreement with Poland's MESKO for the maintenance and support of the Polish Navy’s RBS15 Mk3 surface-to-surface missile system, Saab announced …

• Digital Battlespace

  OSI’s INTS gets type approval

  10th October 2016

  The Integrated Navigation & Tactical System (INTS) from OSI Maritime Systems has received Marine Equipment Directive (MED) Type Approval certification from the DNV GL as …

• Military Logistics

  MTU engines to power Italian patrol boats

  10th October 2016

  Rolls-Royce will supply 14 MTU diesel engines to Fincantieri for seven new multi-purpose ocean-going patrol vessels being built for the Italian Navy, Rolls-Royce announced on …

• Defence Helicopter

  31st MEU aviators soar in Philippines

  10th October 2016

  Much is being written about maritime tensions in the South China Sea, but for pilots of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) of the USMC …

• Defence Helicopter

  Rockwell to service UH-60 displays

  7th October 2016

  Rockwell Collins has been awarded a five-year firm-fixed-price, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract by the US Army to service the MFD-268C4 multi-function display (MFD) units …

• Digital Battlespace

  Falcon III radio gets LRIP authorisation

  7th October 2016

  The US Army has received a Milestone C decision and authorisation for a limited rate initial production (LRIP) of the Falcon III AN/VRC-118 Mid-tier Networking …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Northrop counters UAS in Black Dart

  7th October 2016

  Northrop Grumman has participated in the annual US Department of Defense (DoD) Black Dart counter-UAS technology demonstration exercise, the company announced on 5 October. Black …

• Digital Battlespace

  WIN-T Increment 2 capabilities enter testing

  6th October 2016

  Two Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) Increment 2 capabilities have begun test and evaluation processes at US Army installations, General Dynamics Mission Systems announced on 3 …

• Defence Notes

  Analysis: China gains ground in Africa

  6th October 2016

  Throughout the Cold War era, several sub-Saharan African countries turned to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to procure equipment for their armed forces. With …

• Digital Battlespace

  AUSA 2016: Front line networks realised

  6th October 2016

  PacStar has been selected to provide ruggedised routers, switches and servers for the US Army’s forward area networking programme. With smaller-sized forces using more sophisticated …

• Military Logistics

  C295W in aerial refuel testing

  6th October 2016

  The C295W medium transport aircraft has demonstrated its ability to operate as an airborne tanker during a test flight carried out in late September, Airbus …

• Special Operations

  AUSA 2016: Colt launches new SF rifle

  5th October 2016

  A new short-barrelled rifle (SBR) 5.56mm variant of the M4 rifle – called the SCW0923 – has been launched by Colt. The rifle is designed …

• Defence Helicopter

  AUSA 2016: Future attack helo lighter, more lethal

  5th October 2016

  The replacement of the AH-64E Apache attack helicopter under the Future Vertical Lift (FVL) programme is likely to see a smaller, lighter helicopter introduced, rather …

• Naval Warfare

  Marchwood move delayed again

  5th October 2016

  Plans for a new joint venture between transport specialists David MacBrayne Ltd (DML) and global logistics firm GBA (Holdings) Ltd, to start running the Marchwood …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

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

  Long Range/Long Endurance (LR/LE) [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 ...

• 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 (1-8) [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 (9-18) [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 - 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 helicopters - multirole

  HH-60W - Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH)

  According to the FY2021 Base funding, the HH-60W helicopter unit cost is $43.2 million. The HH-60W will be capable of employment day or night, in ...

• 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 ...

• Destroyers

  Next-Generation Large Surface Combatants (LSC) - DDG(X) [USN]

  Programme Background Requirements The US Navy (USN) is acknowledging a need to move away from the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer design, which is slowly outgrowing. Flight III ...

• 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 ...

• Military helicopters - maritime

  Maritime Operations Helicopters

  The three maritime operations helicopters will be used for logistics and personnel transport, alongside transportation of PASKAL naval special forces in operations in the area. ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  V-Bat [USN]

  Background Core Requirement Fundamentally, the USN requires a UAV that can be flown from its ships in austere environments without dedicated launch or recovery equipment.  ...

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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Subsystems: software

  LiteFlite II Simulators

  The LiteFlite II was designed to provide a high-fidelity, laptop-based system with white-force/man-in-the-loop capabilities for use with a variety of simulation systems. LiteFlite II represents ...

• 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 ...

• Military - UUVs

  RMMV

  The Remote Multi-Mission Vehicle (RMMV) was a semi-submersible AUV developed as part of the AN/WLD-1(V) Remote Minehunting System (RMS) for the USN’s Littoral Combat Ship ...