• Defence Notes

  US Congress approves FY2024 defence spending bill

  18th December 2023

  The US House of Representatives and Senate agreed to a $841.4 billion funding to cover DoD activities in the current fiscal year.

• Land Warfare

  Production ramps up for Swiss Piranha 120mm mortar

  7th December 2023

  The Swiss Army has ordered 48 Piranha 3+ vehicles equipped with RUAG Cobra 120mm mortars, which can fire up to 10 rounds per minute and have a range of 9,000m. The vehicles have a Scania diesel engine, a Kongsberg RWS with a 12.7mm MG and an applique passive armour package.

• Land Warfare

  Finland orders third batch of Leopard bridge vehicles

  19th December 2023

  Austria, which has been operating Leopard 2 MMBTs and Leopard 2L tracked bridge laying vehicles, will see the new Leopard 2Ls built on the country’s existing Leopard 2A4 tanks.

• Land Warfare

  Oshkosh lands JLTV order from Israel

  1st December 2023

  November was a good month for Oshkosh Defence and JLTV orders, and December has started just as well with the company contracted to supply 75 vehicles to Israel.

• Defence Notes

  Budgetary uncertainty threatens Argentinian modernisation plans

  29th January 2024

  The new Argentina government has reduced the defence budget request for 2024 and enabled the use of FONDEF for expenses not related to equipment improvement.

• Land Warfare

  Australia signs US$2.6 billion deal for 129 Redback IFVs from Hanwha Defense Australia

  8th December 2023

  The Redback IFVs for the Australian Defence Force will be made in a facility currently under construction in Geelong, Victoria.

• Land Warfare

  Poland takes delivery of first Rosomak IFVs with ZSSW30 turret system

  18th December 2023

  The ZSSW-30 is an unmanned turret with a 30mm cannon, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun and a launcher for two Spike LR2 air-to-ground missiles.

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2023: Why the US Army is spending billions on modernising training facilities in Europe

  24th November 2023

  The US Army is investing in the modernisation of its Grafenwoehr base and training area in Germany, which hosts the 7th Army Training Command, and provides extensive facilities for live training and interoperability with allied forces.

• Land Warfare

  Northrop Grumman tests IBCS missile defence in live environment

  15th December 2023

  Northrop Grumman's Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) recently underwent successful live fire flight tests, showcasing its ability to integrate sensors and engage threats.

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2023: US Army switches training focus to cyber and EW

  28th November 2023

  The service will pay greater attention to the development of intelligence, cyber and electronic warfare training capabilities.

• Air Warfare

  US approves $2 billion Black Hawk sale for Greece

  19th December 2023

  The proposed sale of UH-60M Black Haws will replace Greece’s ageing multi-role helicopter fleet with a more reliable platform.

• Air Warfare

  Is Turkey’s potential return to the F-35 programme aligned with evolving defence priorities?

  7th February 2024

  While the US remained open to Turkey’s potential reintegration into the F-35 programme, recent developments suggest the possibility that Turkey’s evolving strategic priorities and indigenous defence initiatives may question the necessity of the F-35.

• Land Warfare

  I/ITSEC 2023: British Army could have saved £120 million in artillery ammunition, says manufacturer

  30th November 2023

  Cubic Blue Shell, a train-as-you-fight solution, has been in use by the British Army for three years offering an indirect fire training system that simulates artillery drills and weapons effects.

• Training

  British Army aims to attract new talent via multi-million-pound higher education contract

  22nd November 2023

  The British Army has awarded a nine-year contract to Henley Business School to deliver a degree pathway in Leadership and Strategic Studies for its officers and senior soldiers as part of its talent development strategy.

• Air Warfare

  Germany seals record-breaking contract for up to 82 Airbus H145M helicopters

  14th December 2023

  The German Armed Forces has signed a contract to procure up to 82 Airbus H145M multi-role helicopters, marking the largest-ever order for this model.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - MALE

  MQ-1 Gray Eagle [US Army]

  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 increased ...

• Loitering munitions

  Loitering Munitions [Czech Republic]

  Background KVAČR Concept In February 2024, the Czech Army unveiled the Construction of the Army of the Czech Republic (KVAČR) concept, which outlined an increase ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Stryker (Sergeant Stout) (Batch 2) [USA]

  Background As part of the Army Transformation Initiative, the US DoD is fundamentally reorganising the structure of the US Army. The development of the Sergeant ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Viper (Nigeria)

  Programme Background Due to its ongoing campaign against Islamist insurgents in the north of Nigeria, the Nigerian Army has procured a wide range of mine-protected armoured ...

• Military UAS - micro

  eBee Vision [US]

  Background Multiple orders In November 2025, the US Army acquired three eBee Vision systems to enhance training operations at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Germany. A ...

• Military UAS - micro

  Parrot Anafi (Singapore)

  Programme Background On 7 February 2022, the Singapore Army posted photographs on Facebook that showed the Anafi UAV used as training devices in a five-day ...

• Hybrid effector systems

  M-SHORAD Increment 3 [USA]

  Background The US Army is upgrading its maneuver short-range air defense system (M-SHORAD). Under the overal programme, there are three increments. Increment 1 vehicles are ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Heavy Lift VTOL (HVTOL) [US Army]

  Background USMC First, Army Second In September 2021, Kaman unveiled its Kargo UAV, specifically designed to meet the requirements of the Medium Aerial Resupply Vehicle – Expeditionary ...

• Military UAS - mini

  FPV Drones [Czech Republic]

  Background KVAČR Concept In February 2024, the Czech Army unveiled the Construction of the Army of the Czech Republic (KVAČR) concept, which outlined an increase in ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Titan-B [Colombia]

  Background Colombia is understood to have a requirement for as many as 100 APCs capable of carrying up to 20 troops and protecting their occupants ...

• Loitering munitions

  Loitering Munitions [Spain]

  Programme Background Fuerza 35 Project This project is a Spanish Army initiative to create and maintain an effective force by forming flexible, cohesive operational organisations, highly ...

• Military UAS - small

  Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) (Increment 2) [US Army]

  Programme Background Programme Objective The Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) was to provide a tactical ISTAR capability for US Army Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs). It was intended to ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Stryker DVH (March 2026) [US]

  Background The US Army has been operating the Stryker since 2002. The Stryker DVH is an upgraded variant that has additional armour on its underside ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Kalyani M4 (India)

  Programme Background In the wake of border clashes with the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) in 2020, the Indian Army has accelerated several of its ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  AMPV [US]

  Background Platform development The US Army initiated the AMPV programme to acquire a replacement for several variants of the M113 tracked APC, which has been ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  StreamCaster Mini 4210

  The StreamCaster Mini 4210 (SM4210) is a single-channel data radio (SCDR) that can create MANET mesh networks. It is currently in use with the US ...

• Land: battle management systems

  Comm@nder Army

  Comm@nder Army is an integrated C4I system suitable for use in command post operational environments (infrastructure, shelter-based), providing specialised application services from the HQ of ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  German Army Aviation School

  CAE is the prime contractor for the German Army’s Night-Time Low-Level Flight Training Facility, commonly known as the German Army Aviation School, at Bückeburg. This ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  US Army AVCATT PDSS

  L3Harris Technologies is the prime contractor for the US Army’s Aviation Combined Arms Tactical Trainer (AVCATT) Post Deployment Software Support (PDSS) programme. L3Harris Technologies is ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  M2A4/M7A4 Bradley

  Since 2011, the US Army and BAE Systems have been developing modifications for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle platform to address concerns regarding its ever-increasing weight, ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  British Army Apache Training Facilities

  Aviation Training International (ATIL) – a Leonardo Helicopters/Boeing joint venture formed in 1998 - was selected to provide the attack helicopter training service to the ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  ROC Army UH-60M OFT

  L3 Link (now L3Harris Technologies) gained ready-for-training certification in 2015 on two UH-60M OFT delivered to the Taiwan Army. These training devices are similar to ...

• Directed energy weapons

  Royal Thai Army Laser DEW

  Under Government instructions, the Royal Thai Army is developing a Laser-based Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) to counter drones in its border regions. The unit cost ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  Australian Army S-70 Training System

  The Australian Army S-70A-9 Black Hawk is a turnkey programme including a full flight and mission simulator (FF&MS;), building, facilities and maintenance support. This CAE-built ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  German Army CH-53 Simulator Upgrades

  In 2011, CAE completed major upgrades on two CAE-built CH-53 full mission simulators operated at the German Army Aviation School at Bückeburg. Airbus Helicopters has ...

• Major networking projects

  Army BCT Modernisation Program Increment 1

  The US Army brigade combat team (BCT) modernisation strategy will build a mix of mobile, networked BCTs that can gain leverage from mobility, protection, information ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  UH-72A/B Lakota

  In 2006, the US Army selected a version of the medium-sized, twin-engine H145, designated the UH-72A Lakota,  to meet its requirement for a new Light ...

• Military UAS - mini

  ZAPICAN 01-02

  In May 2026, a sample aircraft, called the ZAPICAN 01-02, was showcased at the headquarters of the “Oriental” Infantry Battalion No. 4, with attendants from ...

• Land: battle management systems

  ARTEMIS BMS

  The Army Tactical Engagement and Information System (ARTEMIS) is a battle management system in service with the Singapore Army. Designed for applications between the Platoon ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  OH-58 Kiowa

  The single-engine OH-58 Kiowa, derived from the Bell 206, entered US Army service in 1969 as a light observation helicopter. More than 2,200 were built for ...