• Land Warfare

  Sweden to purchase IRIS-T air defence systems for $930 million

  24th June 2025

  This recent purchase of the medium-range air defence system adds to the country’s ongoing efforts to ramp up its overall defence readiness and capabilities.

• Naval Warfare

  Navantia combat systems selected for Chinese-built Thai LPD

  6th March 2025

  The landing platform dock, believed to be the largest naval vessel that China has exported, will see the Chinese-built vessel embrace Western technology.

• Air Warfare

  UK-built SkyShark and TigerShark answers domestic drone demand

  23rd July 2025

  MGI Engineering recently demonstrated two variants of its SkyShark, a UK-built one-way-effector (OWE), as both a gas turbine and electric-powered platform, with its larger OWE TigerShark to be showcased at DSEI in September.

• Defence Notes

  Companies post mostly rosy results but warn of potential dark clouds

  25th April 2025

  First quarter 2025 results have been dropping for companies in the past week but many of the US results come with a health warning in their forward-looking aspects about the potential impact of actions by the Trump administration.

• Naval Warfare

  Mitsubishi to build new OPV for Indonesia to enhance security coverage

  4th February 2025

  The offshore patrol vessel (OPV) will join its predecessor vessel in enforcing security around Indonesia’s coastline.

• Air Warfare

  Norway receives final F-35 aircraft and unveils first Joint Strike Missile delivery

  29th April 2025

  Work has begun on stockpiling the Joint Strike Missile (JSM), following the first missile’s delivery from Kongsberg and the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency.

• Air Warfare

  Paris Air Show 2025: Teaming success for E-7 and MQ-28 as Ghost Bat targets Europe

  17th June 2025

  Boeing has announced the successful flight trial of a MQ-28 Ghost Bat uncrewed aerial system (UAS) teaming with an E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft against an airborne target.

• Naval Warfare

  Canada commits to $15 billion River-class destroyers and infrastructure

  17th March 2025

  The new destroyer programme aims to build 15 new vessels over at least the next 25 years, the first of which should launch in the early 2030s.

• Air Warfare

  UK RAF’s Protector programme hits new milestones, more aircraft expected this year

  14th May 2025

  Further tests will be carried out on the existing fleet, ahead of the Royal Air Force’s anticipated transition from MQ-9A Reaper aircraft to the MQ-9B Protector by the end of 2025.

• Air Warfare

  Combat-proven capabilities: How precision-strike systems are evolving for tomorrow’s battlespace (Podcast)

  11th June 2025

  Combat-tested technology is being reshaped to counter A2/AD threats, reduce reliance on GPS and enable faster, more autonomous targeting in complex environments. In this special podcast, experts explain how the evolving threat landscape is shaping next-generation strike capabilities.

• Naval Warfare

  Malaysia’s Maharaja Lela frigates to fit SEA’s Torpedo Launcher System

  13th March 2025

  The TLS is expected to improve the vessels’ anti-submarine warfare performance in Malaysia’s littoral region.

• Air Warfare

  Belgium’s F-35A order progresses at it awaits first jet delivery by late 2025

  12th June 2025

  The first aircraft delivery timeline confirmation comes as Belgium weighs up an additional F-3A buy from Lockheed Martin.

• Land Warfare

  Hanwha contracted to further develop long-range missile defence radar

  28th May 2025

  The new Multi-Function Radar (MFR) is being developed under Phase II Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (L-SAM-II) and is planned to provide three to four times greater coverage than the earlier version of L-SAM.

• Land Warfare

  Czech CAESAR howitzer order at risk of cancellation

  10th July 2025

  The Czech Republic ordered 52 CAmion Equipé d’un Système d’ARtillerie (CAESAR) self-propelled howitzers (SPHs) in 2021 and added another 10 a year later. A cancellation of the programme would impact both the army’s capabilities and local industry which is involved in the manufacture.

• Naval Warfare

  Pakistan Navy takes second OPV 2600 vessel from Damen

  23rd December 2024

  The PNS Yamama completes the class of maritime security vessels.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Maritime patrol

  P-8A POSEIDON [USA]

  Programme Background The P-8A Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) system is a heavily modified and militarized derivative of Boeing's 737-800 ERX commercial aircraft. The P-8A is ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | 40PB Flight II [USN]

  The US Navy has selected Metal Shark's Defiant 40 patrol boat design as a replacement for the fleet of force protection boats currently in use ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | 40PB Flight II [USN]

  The US Navy has selected Metal Shark's Defiant 40 patrol boat design as a replacement for the fleet of force protection boats currently in use ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | T-AOT (CONSOL tanker) [USN]

  The US Navy is procuring five tankers to support the transportation and distribution of bulk petroleum products in support of U.S. Navy and joint force operations. They ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | T-AOT (CONSOL tanker) [USN]

  The US Navy is procuring five tankers to support the transportation and distribution of bulk petroleum products in support of U.S. Navy and joint force operations. They ...

• Fighter - naval

  F-35B (FY2026-2031) [USA]

  Background According to U.S. budget documents throughout the decade, the U.S. Navy intends to acquire 324 F-35B STOVL aircraft. Prior to 2020, the U.S. Navy ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  CH-53K [USA]

  Programme Background The USMC is replacing its ageing CH-53E helicopters with the CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter. Designed as an evolution of the CH-53E, the CH-53K is ...

• Maritime patrol

  P-8A Poseidon [UK]

  Background In July 2016, the UK government announced that it had ordered nine aircraft for service with the RAF. Under this frame, in January 2019, ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Constellation Class - FFG(X) (11-20)

  The US Navy ran the Next Generational Future Guided Missile Frigate (FFG X) programme to build a replacement for the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates, the ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Constellation Class - FFG(X) (11-20)

  The US Navy ran the Next Generational Future Guided Missile Frigate (FFG X) programme to build a replacement for the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates, the ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  T-AOT (CONSOL tanker) [USN]

  Background The US Navy is procuring ten tankers to support the transportation and distribution of bulk petroleum products in support of U.S. Navy and joint ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | F-35B STOVL Future Procurement - US Navy

  The US Navy is planning to order 115 F-35B STOVLs between FY2026 and FY2031 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated ...

• Data links

  Data links | F-35B STOVL Future Procurement - US Navy

  The US Navy is planning to order 115 F-35B STOVLs between FY2026 and FY2031 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated ...

• Air: Helmet-mounted displays

  Air: Helmet-mounted displays | F-35B STOVL Future Procurement - US Navy

  The US Navy is planning to order 115 F-35B STOVLs between FY2026 and FY2031 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | F-35B STOVL Future Procurement - US Navy

  The US Navy is planning to order 115 F-35B STOVLs between FY2026 and FY2031 under the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The purchase is estimated ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Maritime patrol

  US-2

  The ShinMaywa US-2 is an amphibious short take-off and landing aircraft used primarily by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) for SAR. 

• Military - USVs

  Voyager

  Voyager is an Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) built by US-based Saildrone. Voyager has been used by the US Navy (USN) and is one of three ...

• Military - UUVs

  Orca

  Orca is an extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicle (XLUUV) developed by Boeing for the US Navy (USN).

• Destroyers

  Kee Lung (Kidd) Class

  The Kee Lung-class consists of four ex-US Kidd-class guided missile destroyers in service with the Republic of China Navy (ROCN). The ships were originally built for ...

• 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 ...

• Data links

  GNOMAD US Domestic

  The US domestic version of GNOMAD (see separate entry) is a ruggedised system comprising a satellite antenna and baseband modular chassis that can be installed ...

• Military - USVs

  Explorer

  Saildrone's Explorer is the smallest of three USVs designed and built by the US-based USV manufacturer Saildrone. The system is used by the US Navy (USN) ...

• EO/IR systems, Sea: ship surveillance and fire control systems

  SeaFLIR 380-HD

  The SeaFLIR 380-HD is a long-range, multispectral surveillance system for surface vessels. Manufactured by Teledyne FLIR, the system combines HD IR, colour or SWIR spectral information. According to ...

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  MK266 High Explosive Incendiary with Tracer

  The MK266 High Explosive Incendiary with Tracer is a 30mm medium calibre round manufactured by Northrop Grumman. It is currently in use with the US Navy.

• Military - UUVs

  Snakehead LDUUV

  The Snakehead Large Displacement Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (LDUUV) is a US Navy (USN) Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (UUV) designed to be launched from submarine Dry Dock Shelters ...

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  XM1198 High Explosive Dual Purpose with Self Destruct (HEDP-SD)

  The XM1198 High Explosive Dual Purpose with Self Destruct (HEDP-SD) is a 30mm medium calibre round manufactured by Northrop Grumman. The US Navy uses the XM1198.

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  XM950 Target Practice Round

  The XM950 Target Practice Round is a 30mm medium calibre training round manufactured by Northrop Grumman. The US Navy uses the XM950 for training with its ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Integrated Combat System

  The Integrated Combat System (ICS) is a combat management system being developed for the US Navy. The project, currently led by Lockheed Martin, aims to ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Navy Multiband Terminal (NMT)

  The Navy Multiband Terminal is the next-generation maritime military SATCOM for the US Navy and allied nations. The terminal integrates EHF and AEHF systems with ...

• Air: EO/IR – Jamming Systems

  AN/AAQ-45

  Leonardo’s AN/AAQ-45 Distributed Aperture Infrared Countermeasures is designed to equip rotorcraft. The system is being installed on Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawk medium-lift utility helicopters used ...