• Defence Helicopter

  Sikorsky awaits UK New Medium Helicopter requirements to unveil production plans, explores new X2 design

  2nd June 2023

  Sikorsky has yet to reveal its production plans for its UK New Medium Helicopter contender while industry anxiously anticipate the release of critical acquisition targets. The company also continues the exploration of its X helicopter concept for the international market.

• Land Warfare

  Netherlands orders General Dynamics floating bridges

  24th July 2023

  General Dynamics European Land Systems has received an order from the Royal Netherlands Army for three Improved Ribbon Bridge (IRB) floating bridge systems.

• Naval Warfare

  Taiwan reveals first indigenous submarine to much fanfare

  2nd October 2023

  Taiwan has made good progress with its submarine programme, revealing its initial boat in late September.

• Defence Helicopter

  Bell expresses confidence in US Army FARA process at Paris Air Show, despite Congressional calls for scrutiny

  21st June 2023

  Bell highlighted the US Army's solid programme footing and clearly defined objectives for the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft amid calls for an analysis of alternatives from US lawmakers.

• Land Warfare

  Plasan North America nets $300 million JLTV A2 subcontract

  19th July 2023

  Plasan North America will partner with AM General as a subcontractor for the JLTV A2 programme. AM General is contracted to make over 20,000 vehicles and almost 10,000 trailers.

• Land Warfare

  As the Ukraine war passes the 18-month mark, how are NATO’s factories meeting the artillery challenge?

  18th September 2023

  NATO is rapidly increasing its supply of equipment to Ukraine in a number of key areas including tube artillery and, crucially, its ammunition. Shephard analyses how the alliance's members are stepping up to this challenge after years of industrial neglect.

• Naval Warfare

  The Philippines has ended its flirtation with China – so what next for the country’s navy?

  11th September 2023

  For decades, largely as a result of historical ties, the US was the only Western country with a strong interest in the Philippines and its navy. Over the past year, other nations have turned their attention to the archipelago. The question is why now? And what is the impact of this shift on the Philippine Navy?

• Land Warfare

  Brazilian Army receives Genesis/SISDAC fire control system

  26th June 2023

  The system was designed and manufactured by state-owned company IMBEL to enable faster responses on the battlefield by accelerating data handling and centralising missions of firing units under its operational control.

• Naval Warfare

  First Royal Navy Type 31 frigate to hit the water this year

  2nd June 2023

  The first of the Royal Navy’s future Inspiration-class Type 31 frigates, HMS Venturer, is scheduled to hit the water this year.

• Defence Helicopter

  Boeing receives $22.5 million contract for CH-47 Chinook long lead items

  13th July 2023

  Boeing has received a $22.5 million firm-fixed-price contract from the US DoD for CH-47 Chinook helicopter long lead items.

• Land Warfare

  Roketsan rolls out Tactical Missile Weapon System

  27th July 2023

  Roketsan, using internal R&D funding, has developed the Tactical Missile Weapon System (TMWS), which is being shown at IDEX 2023 installed on the roof of the FNSS Pars (6x6) armoured fighting vehicle (AFV).

• Air Warfare

  Ukraine lessons: is bringing an attack helicopter to a missile fight too dangerous?

  15th September 2023

  According to multiple OSINT sources, Russian forces have lost possibly as many as 200 rotary-wing aircraft since February 2022. Some of these occurred in early high-profile operations, but most have been attrition casualties during the ongoing fighting. Shephard analyses the nature of these losses, and what lessons NATO attack helicopter operators should draw.

• Defence Notes

  Rheinmetall buys Expal Systems to expand ammunition production to meet booming orders

  1st August 2023

  Rheinmetall has finalised its acquisition of Expal Systems, significantly boosting its ammunition production capacity and strengthening Rheinmetall's position as a NATO supplier and enhancing its product portfolio.

• Defence Helicopter

  Paris Air Show: Bell to deliver virtual cockpit and prototype aircraft for US Army's FLRAA

  23rd June 2023

  With the protest procedure concluded for the US Army's Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft competition, Bell and the service have resumed work, focussing on the success of the programme.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  More Black Hornet UAVs bound for Ukraine as part of Norway order

  18th July 2023

  Teledyne FLIR Defense will supply Black Hornet 3 nano-UAVs to Ukraine, as part of a Norway MoD order. The pocket-sized drones provide crucial reconnaissance capabilities.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Rosomak [Poland - Second Batch]

  Programme Background Requirement The Polish Army selected Patria's XC-360 Armored Modular Vehicle (AMV) to meet its requirement for a new 8x8 armoured vehicle to replace ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  NBPWP Borsuk [Poland - First Batch]

  Programme Background The NBPWP Borsuk is intended to replace the BWP-1s currently in service with the Polish Army. Development of the platform began in 2014 with the ...

• Loitering munitions

  Warmate (Framework Agreement) [Poland]

  Background Previous Orders Before the announcement of the framework agreement in 2025, Poland had acquired other batches of Warmates. In 2017, it had a procurement programme ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Rosomak [Poland - Third Batch]

  Programme Background The Polish Army selected the Rosomak 8x8 armoured vehicle (a version of Patria's Armored Modular Vehicle (AMV) 8x8 produced under licence by Rosomak) ...

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

  Wizjer [Poland]

  Programme Background Requirements In its Technical Modernisation Programme 2013-2022, the Polish Ministry of National Defense (MND) identified the need for several new types of UAVs ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Rosomak [Poland - Fourth Batch]

  Programme Background The Polish Army selected the Rosomak 8x8 armoured vehicle (a version of Patria's Armored Modular Vehicle (AMV) 8x8 produced under licence by Rosomak) ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Rosomak [Poland - Sixth Batch]

  Programme Background The Polish Army selected the Rosomak 8x8 armoured vehicle (a version of Patria's Armored Modular Vehicle (AMV) 8x8 produced under licence by Rosomak) ...

• Tanks

  Wilk

  Programme 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 ...

• Pegaz Special Operations Vehicles

  Programme BackgroundRequirementThe Polish MoD has a long-standing requirement to procure a new 4x4 tactical vehicle to replace the M1165A1 HMMWVs and Oshkosh M-ATVs currently in ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Rosomak [Poland - Fifth Batch]

  Programme Background The Polish Army selected the Rosomak 8x8 armoured vehicle (a version of Patria's Armored Modular Vehicle (AMV) 8x8 produced under licence by Rosomak) ...

• Tanks

  M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams [Poland - Forecast]

  Programme Background Requirement The Polish Army wants to replace its legacy Soviet T-72 MBTs with new NATO-standard platforms to increase interoperability with its allies and ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  NBPWP Borsuk [Poland]

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

• Tanks

  M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams [Poland]

  Programme Background Requirement Since the early 2010s Poland wanted to upgrade its Soviet-era tank fleet due to modernisation requirements, the need to increase interoperability with NATO ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  4x4 Command and Reconnaissance Vehicle (Poland)

  Programme Background The Polish Army wants to replace legacy Soviet equipment procured during the Cold War with new NATO-standard platforms to enhance its interoperability with ...

• Tanks

  K2 [Poland - Phase I]

  Programme 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 ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Rosomak

  The Rosomak is a variant of Patria's 8x8 Armored Modular Vehicle (AMV) platform produced under licence in Poland. Approximately 90% of the vehicle's components are manufactured by Polish ...

• 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 ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Anders Multirole Combat Platform

  The tracked WPB Anders multirole combat platform was designed to replace the BMP-1 IFV and other vehicles in Polish Army service. The Anders family is ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  W-3 Sokol

  The Leonardo/PZL-Świdnik W-3 Sokol twin-engine utility and combat support helicopter was designed and is built-in Poland. The latest version is the W-3PL Gluszec, an upgraded ...

• Self-propelled guns, Self-propelled missile systems

  ZSU-23-4MP Biala

  ZSU-23-4MP Biala is the a locally developed Polish  upgrade of ZSU-23-4 Shilka tracked four-barrel 23mm anti-aircraft gun developed in 1957-65 by Mytishchi Engineering Works to meet the ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  LTMPV Dino 319

  The Dino 319, developed by Team Concept, is a tactical vehicle that combines exceptional off-road capabilities with lightweight composite materials and a modular configuration. Designed ...

• Tanks

  PT-91

  The PT-91 Twardy (Hard) tracked MBT is a derivative of the Soviet T-72M1 produced under licence in Poland by Zaklady Mechaniczne Bumar Łabedy, now part ...

• Self-propelled mortars

  Rak

  HSW unveiled its Rak 120 mm SP mortar turret at MSPO 2008. It is designed to be integrated onto any suitable tracked or wheeled AFV ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Patriot II

  The Patriot II multipurpose 4x4 armoured vehicle is a further development of Excalibur Army's original Patriot.  Longer and heavier than its predecessor, the Patriot II ...

• Air: Defensive Systems - Radar Warning Receivers

  TDS-H

  The TDS-H threat detection system is a compact, user-programmable RWR. Its sensitive instantaneous frequency-measurement capability enables high POI and early warning. The system utilises miniaturised ...

• 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

  LPG

  The Lightweight Tracked Chassis (LPG) is being developed by HSW for the Polish Army. Unlike previous attempts to develop an LPG, the new vehicle dispenses ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AW249

  The AW249, or New Exploration and Escort Helicopter (NEES), is an attack helicopter being developed for the Italian Army by Leonardo based on the AW149 tactical transport helicopter. It ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, 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 ...

• Medium UGVs

  Perun UGV

  Perun, a developmental 4x4 Uncrewed Ground Vehicle, was first introduced at the MSPO 2018 trade show in Kielce. It is engineered for combat and reconnaissance ...