• Naval Warfare

  Black Scorpion mini torpedo in qualification phase

  9th July 2020

  The Black Scorpion mini torpedo is currently undergoing a qualification phase ahead of introduction into the market, although officials from manufacturer Leonardo do not anticipate …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Belgian-Dutch minehunter programme to use V-200

  8th July 2020

  The V-200 UAV from UMS Skeldar will be used in the Belgian-Dutch minehunter programme under a deal announced on 8 July.  UMS Skeldar was awarded …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  UK launches unmanned Pacific 24 boat

  24th June 2020

  The UK RN has launched its first crewless boat for general duties. Trials with the new craft begin this month, followed by integration trials later …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  US Army selects Smart Shooter C-UAS solution

  30th June 2020

  The US Army has selected the SMASH Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft System (C-sUAS) solution from Smart Shooter after it was endorsed by the US DoD. The system is …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  SOCOM picks six for MEUAS III task orders

  26th June 2020

  US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) has awarded six contracts, with a total combined value of $975 million, for ISR services worldwide to support the Mid-Endurance …

• Defence Notes

  Japan responds to regional threats with defence enhancements

  16th July 2020

  This week, the Japanese MoD published its annual Defence White Paper, which provided some new information as the country’s military responds to its regional threat …

• Naval Warfare

  Pentagon recalibrates USN fleet numbers but lacks updated force structure assessment

  26th June 2020

  US shipbuilders and Congress are anxiously awaiting details of the USN’s 30-year shipbuilding plan, which is already running five months late. This blueprint will propel …

• Training

  UK launches Project VULCAN

  4th June 2020

  The UK is looking to streamline its armour training, through what MoD Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S;) describes as ‘provision of a suite of comprehensive simulator …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  General Atomics to supply two more Reapers

  23rd June 2020

  General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has received a $26.87 million contract from US Naval Air Systems Command to provide two MQ-9A Reaper unmanned air systems (UASs). The …

• Training

  USAF RPA training falls short

  29th June 2020

  According to the US Government Accountability Office (GAO), ‘the [US] Air Force does not have enough pilots and sensor operators to meet its staffing targets …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Philippines expects Hermes 900 UAVs imminently

  26th June 2020

  The Philippine Air Force (PAF) is about to receive its final MALE UAVs from Israel, according to the latest edition of the PAF newsletter Lead …

• Air Warfare

  FCAS leads the next-generation combat aircraft market

  25th June 2020

  The development of sixth-generation combat aircraft is in its infancy, yet competition to supply prospective global requirements is already ramping up. Projects already initiated by …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  South Korea explores potential of clustered USVs

  22nd June 2020

  Hanwha Systems is involved in a KRW19 billion ($15.6 million) South Korean government project to develop a management system for clustered USVs by 2024, the …

• Defence Notes

  Intermarine & Leonardo sign research partnership

  18th June 2020

  Leonardo on 18 June confirmed a new 10-year strategic research and development agreement with Intermarine on new naval technologies. This aims to allow both companies …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Denmark seeks new unmanned air capability

  16th June 2020

  The Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation (DALO) is planning to acquire a new UAS capability to support the Danish Armed Forces. According to an EU-wide …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Combat Air Teaming System (CATS) Warrior [India]

  Programme Background Make In India The 'Make In India' initiative is an effort by the Indian government to boost domestic manufacturing. In the context of ...

• Military UAS - small

  Black Hornet 3 PRS (UK)

  Programme Background The British Army operated approximately 160 first-generation Black Hornet PD-100 nano UAS between 2013 and 2017, when the decision was made to retire ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Ajax IFV [UK]

  Programme Background Prior to commencing development of the Ajax the UK utilised the Warrior was its primary IFV. However, the Warrior entered service in 1987 making ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Naval Collaborative Combat Air Vehicle (N-CCAV) [India]

  Programme Background CATS Warrior The Combat Air Teaming System (CATS) is a planned, uncrewed and crewed family of aircraft in development by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited ...

• Military UAS - small

  Bug Nano UAS (UK)

  Programme Background The British Army previously took delivery of 160 first-generation Black Hornet PD-100 nano UAS in 2013 to support operations in Afghanistan. After these ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, 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 ...

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

  Orbiter 3 (Croatia)

  Programme Background The Croatian government launched a competitive tender for the procurement of a short-range UAV in October 2017. Although the tender was opened on ...

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  AR100-H [Germany]

  Programme Background In May 2022, it was announced that 145 AR100-H drones would be supplied to the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr). At the time of ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Boxer (MIV) [UK]

  Programme Background History The UK MoD announced in March 2018 that it would re-join the Boxer programme and pursue a sole-source acquisition of the 8x8 ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing

  Larger UAVs [Estonia]

  2026-2029 Defence Investment On 30 July 2025, the Republic of Estonia’s Minister of Defence, Hanno Pevkur, announced an approved development plan, allocating more than €10 billion ($11.42 ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Sixth-Generation Aircraft [South Korea]

  Programme Background Hanwha industries has confirmed that a new engine is under development to replace the American manufactured F-414 engine; according to reports, the new ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | New Generation Minehunters/Offshore (NGM/A) (1-4) [Italy]

  The Italian Navy is procuring twelve new multi-purpose mine countermeasures (MCM) vessels under the Cacciamine Nuova Generazione (CNG) programme. The programme includes coastal-going units (NGM/C) ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | New Generation Minehunters/Offshore (NGM/A) (1-4) [Italy]

  The Italian Navy is procuring twelve new multi-purpose mine countermeasures (MCM) vessels under the Cacciamine Nuova Generazione (CNG) programme. The programme includes coastal-going units (NGM/C) ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Ermine (Ukraine Aid) [Netherlands]

  Programme Background Since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Western governments have sought to provide as much assistance as possible to the Ukrainian ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | New Generation Minehunters/Coastal (NGM/C) (1-5) [Italy]

  The Italian Navy is procuring twelve new multi-purpose mine countermeasures (MCM) vessels under the Cacciamine Nuova Generazione (CNG) programme. The programme includes coastal-going units (NGM/C) ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Military - USVs

  SHARC

  The Sensor Hosting Autonomous Remote Craft (SHARC) wave glider platform is a JV developed between Boeing and Liquid Robotics. The SHARC is able to deliver ...

• Land: soldier modernisation systems - industry programmes

  Warrior Systems

  General Dynamics Mission Systems is prime contractor and system integrator for the US Army’s Warrior soldier systems, which include Air Warrior, Future Force Warrior, Land Warrior ...

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

  NRQ-21

  Insitu displayed the NRQ-21 Integrator at the Unmanned Warrior 2016 event in Wales. The aircraft has been designed to carry out tasks on land and ...

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

  Outlaw SeaHunter

  Outlaw UAVs are used by military and research agencies for training, testing, data collection and system development. In the 114-137kg maximum take-off weight class, SeaHunter ...

• Land: soldier modernisation systems - industry programmes

  Mounted Warrior

  Mounted Warrior will provide an integrated system-of-systems ensemble designed to improve the survivability, lethality and combat effectiveness of armoured vehicle crewmen. The system leverages capabilities ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Warrior

  The Warrior IFV entered service with the British Army in mid-1987. A total of 789 vehicles were delivered in IFV, infantry command, anti-tank, recovery, repair, ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  MIHDS

  The Modular Integrated Helmet Display System (MIHDS) is designed and developed jointly by General Dynamics Mission Systems, USA and Microvision Inc. The system's SD2500 design ...

• Military - USVs

  MAST

  The Maritime Autonomy Surface Testbed (MAST) was developed by ASV Global and Roke Manor Research under funding from the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory. It ...

• Land: soldier modernisation systems - national programmes

  Warrior 2020

  Finland’s Warrior 2020 programme is focused on improving individual soldier equipment in the five capability areas defined by NATO: C4I, lethality, mobility, survivability and sustainability. Warrior ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  CATS Warrior

  Manufactured by the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the Combat Air Teaming System (CATS) Warrior is a medium-altitude long-endurance UAS part of the CATS family ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  OH-58D Kiowa Warrior

  The OH-58D Kiowa Warrior is a two-person, light scout helicopter with a day/night mast-mounted sight, glass cockpit and four-bladed rotor system. Following the retirement of ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  MUBC

  The Modular Universal Battery Charger (MUBC) is a scalable charging system for a range of military and commercial batteries. It provides for the addition of ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  MD 530F Cayuse Warrior

  An evolution of the OH-6 Cayuse light observation helicopter, the MD 530F was initially Federal Aviation Administration-certified in July 1985 as the Model 369FF. It ...

• Land: RWS

  Unmanned T40

  Nexter is developed an unmanned variant of its T40 two-man turret to meet the growing demand for these types of systems. Like the standard T40, ...

• UAS: Integrated systems - uncrewed

  Athena 511

  The Athena 511 is a compact all-in-one GPS-aided INS air data system. The system’s integrated inertial sensing uses a tactical grade, ring-laser gyro IMU, with ...