• Air Warfare

  India revives Netra Mk-II AWACS after Airbus cost dispute

  22nd August 2025

  India has cleared higher retrofit costs for six ageing Airbus A321s to be converted into Netra Mk-II airborne surveillance platforms, marking progress in a long-delayed AWACS programme but raising questions over lifespan and operational value.

• Air Warfare

  Saab and Helsing hail world-first as Gripen E aircraft flies with ‘Centaur’ AI agent

  11th June 2025

  The flights, which pitted an AI-integrated Gripen E against a Gripen D in a Beyond Visual Range (BVR) combat scenario, marks a major milestone for Saab’s Project Beyond which looks to modernise the Gripen E platform.

• Air Warfare

  October drone digest: Growing desire for CCAs and new VTOL technology unveiled

  30th October 2025

  During October 2025, several countries and organisations signalled their intention to acquire loyal wingman uncrewed aircraft systems — designated by the US Air Force as Collaborative Combat Aircraft — or to study the capability further, while various new uncrewed helicopters were showcased.

• Air Warfare

  Singapore P-8A buy integral to future maritime domain awareness network

  17th September 2025

  Singapore’s acquisition of the Boeing P-8A Poseidon will be part of a maritime domain awareness network that could include uncrewed aerial systems.

• Air Warfare

  What might next-generation military aircrew training look like?

  26th December 2025

  Changing roles for combat aircraft fleets, the rise of simulation and LVC technologies, and the increasing cost of flight hours could all be leading to a paradigm shift in military pilot training.

• Naval Warfare

  Half of Australia’s first Hunter frigate is now in fabrication

  29th September 2025

  BAE Systems Maritime Australia’s Andy Coxall gave Shephard a progress update on its HMAS Hunter frigate, while addressing concerns over the cost difference between Australia’s programme and Norway’s.

• Air Warfare

  DSEI 2025: ‘Future force’ a focus but questions remain on core UK air programmes

  3rd September 2025

  Focused on shaping the armed forces for the fight ahead, DSEI will hone in on new technology and small and medium enterprises to help lead the sector forward.

• Air Warfare

  Ghost Bat drone makes first deployment in latest milestone

  25th June 2025

  In the past 18 months, Boeing’s MQ-28A Ghost Bat uncrewed aerial system (UAS) has achieved several milestones including teaming with manned aircraft, achieving 100 flight hours and training of first military pilot.

• Air Warfare

  2025 air market review: European defence independence, next-gen tech and export concerns dominate

  23rd December 2025

  This year’s (geo)political turmoil has challenged many long-prevailing assumptions, leading to far-reaching consequences for air forces and their supplier bases in industry worldwide – with five key trends in review for 2025.

• Air Warfare

  Boeing E-7A still in South Korean AEW&C competition, despite dropout reports

  10th July 2025

  The E-7A is one of three aircraft submitted for the South Korean AEW&C II competition, which seeks to acquire four more aircraft of the type for its air force by 2028.

• Naval Warfare

  Swedish Visby frigates to get air defence system under $166 million contract

  30th May 2025

  Saab announced in 2021 that it had signed an agreement with Swedish defence procurement for the development of plans for a Visby upgrade. One aspect of the upgrade is for the introduction of a surface-to-air missile capability.

• Land Warfare

  Czech Republic set to order RBS 70 NG systems as CAESAR howitzers begin production

  2nd June 2025

  The Czech Government is to approve the purchase of a fleet of vehicle mounted integrated air defence systems as the country invests to overhaul its equipment. Spending includes two dozen F-35As, CAESAR howitzers and refurbished Leopard tanks.

• Air Warfare

  Sweden requests approval to pursue Gripen and GlobalEye sales to Peru and Denmark

  16th April 2025

  The Swedish Government has asked parliament to authorise two possible export sales as part of its 2025 Spring amending budget bill.

• Air Warfare

  Colombia confirms Gripen E/F buy, final negotiations still underway

  3rd April 2025

  The country was reportedly “months” away from an official aircraft selection, as of mid-March 2025.

• Air Warfare

  Will Canada and Latin America seek new sources for combat aircraft?

  6th May 2025

  US-made combat aircraft are being passed over in favour of European types, as Latin America and Canada question their ageing fleet replacement choices.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Tracked Support Vehicle [Spain]

  Background Requirement Spain has an inventory of ageing M113s in various configurations, at least 20 of which were transferred to Ukraine in 2022. According to ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  VCR (Batch 3) [Spain]

  Background Purpose The VCR programme is to replace several legacy wheeled and tracked vehicles currently in service with the Spanish Army, including the BMR-600 6x6, ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  VCR (Batch 1) [Spain]

  Background Purpose The VCR programme is to replace several legacy wheeled and tracked vehicles currently in service with the Spanish Army, including the BMR-600 6x6, VEC-M1 ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  VCR (Batch 2) [Spain]

  Background Purpose The VCR programme is to replace several legacy wheeled and tracked vehicles currently in service with the Spanish Army, including the BMR-600 6x6, ...

• AEW&C

  GlobalEye [Sweden]

  Programme Background Between 2021-25, the Swedish government plans to increase their spending on national defence by more than 40%, it announced in early 2021. In ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-16 Replacement (1-4) [Thailand]

  Programme Background The Royal Thai Air Force began looking for an F-16 replacement in 2021 after the then new Air Force commander ACM Napadej Thupatemi ...

• AEW&C

  GlobalEye [France]

  Programme Background Saab and the French Defence Procurement Agency signed an MoU at Paris Air Show 2025 for the firm purchase two GlobalEye aircraft and the ...

• Short Range Missile Defence Systems: 0 to 20 km range

  RBS-70 NG [Canada]

  Background In February 2024 Canada announced its intention to urgently procure the RBS-70 NG short-range air defence system (SHORAD).  Saab was awarded a $227 million ...

• Fighter - multirole

  Multirole fighters [Botswana]

  Programme Background Botswana is seeking to acquire a new multirole fighter to fulfil a gap left by the nations outdated fleet of F-5 aircraft. According to ...

• Submarines: conventional/attack

  Blekinge Class (3) [Sweden]

  Programme Background A contract worth SEK7.6 billion ($872m) for two A26 submarines for the Royal Swedish Navy (RSwN) was awarded to Saab Kockums in 2015, ...

• Military - UUVs

  Autonomous Ocean Drone [Sweden]

  Background Requirements Saab is delivering a Large Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (LUUV) currently named the Autonomous Ocean Drone AOD) to the Swedish Navy. It is designed to employ underwater sensors, ...

• AEW&C

  Saab 340 AEW [Poland]

  Background Requirement Purported as a response to Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the Polish Air Force is understood to have a requirement for a then-unspecified ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) [Sweden]

  Background CCA studies In May 2024, Saab revealed initial details of Sweden’s Konceptet Framtidens Stridsflyg (KFS), which translates to “a future fighter aircraft study.” The ...

• Frigates

  Luleå Class (1-4) [Sweden]

  Background Requirements The Swedish Navy currently operates a total of five Visby-class corvettes and two older Gävle-class corvettes, which first entered service in the late 1980s. According ...

• Hybrid effector systems

  SAAB C-UAS [Sweden]

  Background Swedish company SAAB has been contracted to provide an integrated Counter Uncrewed Aerial Systems (C-UAS). The product supplied is a modular, mobile platform designed ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Land: tactical engagement simulators

  ITAS-TESS

  The Improved Target Acquisition System – Tactical Engagement Simulation System (ITAS-TESS) is a laser-based system designed to conduct simulated weapons engagement during crew and collective ...

• Land: tactical engagement simulators

  Field Artillery Training Systems

  The ICE Field Artillery Training Systems for the M109A6 Paladin and M270/M270A1 MLRS provides instrumented real-time data and performance monitoring during training and live-fire missions. ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  TESS

  The Tactical Engagement Simulation System (TESS) is a transparent training instrumentation system designed for the AH-64 Apache Longbow Force-on-Force collective training for live aerial gunnery ...

• Land: vehicle simulators

  LETS

  The US Army maintains a large fleet of locomotives and rail vehicles throughout the US to facilitate the movement of equipment and supplies and provides ...

• Air: chaff/flare/decoy systems

  BriteCloud

  Leonardo's BriteCloud is a digital radio frequency memory (DRFM) expendable active decoy (EAD). The device is designed to disrupt incoming missiles' RF tracking systems and ...

• Trainer

  Saab 105/SK60

  The Saab 105 is a high-wing, twin-engine jet trainer/light attack aircraft developed by Saab in the 1960s. The platform entered service with the Swedish Air ...

• AEW&C

  Saab 340 AEW

  The Saab 340 AEW is an aerial early warning aircraft based on the Saab 340 airliner. It is designated as S-100B Argus in Swedish service. ...

• AEW&C

  Saab 2000 Erieye

  The Saab 2000 Erieye is an aerial early warning aircraft developed based on the Saab 2000 regional aircraft. It is fitted with an Erieye PS-890 ...

• Combat Search and Rescue

  Saab 340B+ / SAR-200

  The Saab 340B+, known also as SAR-200, is a search and rescue aircraft based on the Saab 340 regional airliner.  It is powered by two CT7-9B turboprop ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  A3-001

  The Saab A3-001 is a future collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) or autonomous collaborative platform (ACP) from Saab, pitched primarily to meet the Swedish air force's ...

• Minehunters

  MCMV 24

  The MCMV 24 is a mine countermeasures vessel concept being developed by Saab. The 66m vessel is designed for mine countermeasures missions in the Baltic ...

• Land: tactical engagement simulators

  MANWORN II DPU

  The MANWORN II Dismounted Player Unit (DPU) is a flexible position location tracking system suitable for individual through brigade-level training. MANWORN II DPU features GPS ...

• Transport

  Saab 340B transport

  The Saab 340B transport variant was developed to meet Swedish Air Force requirements to replace its King Air B200 transport aircraft. Production of the original ...

• Military - USVs

  Enforcer III

  Enforcer III is an autonomous variant of Saab's widely-used and highly-produced CB90 Combat Boat.

• AEW&C

  GlobalEye (Global 6000)

  In February 2016, Saab introduced GlobalEye, an AEW&C; aircraft that provides air, maritime and ground surveillance in a single solution. The multi-role airborne surveillance system combines ...