• Training

  US DoD V-22 sim upgrade plans

  22nd January 2018

  The US DoD’s Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division has placed a $34.9 million order for the upgrade of its CV-22 and MV-22 synthetic …

• Special Operations

  JSSD-K construction work set to begin

  2nd January 2018

  Work is set to begin on a new joint logistics operations centre for the US Special Operations Command Central’s Joint Special Operations Forces Support Detachment …

• Defence Helicopter

  Triumph to continue AH-1Z bonded panel production

  30th January 2018

  Triumph Group has signed a new agreement with Bell Helicopter to extend its production of bonded panel structures for the AH-1Z attack helicopter through 2021, …

• Defence Notes

  Norway suspends arms exports to UAE over Yemen war

  3rd January 2018

  Norway has suspended arms and ammunition exports to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) because of the nation's involvement in the Yemen war, the Norwegian Foreign …

• Defence Notes

  Philippines reaches out to Indonesia as ISIS regroups

  9th January 2018

  As ISIS-inspired terror groups begin to recruit online in Southeast Asia, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has sought the help of Indonesia to implement an improved …

• Training

  New WTCS system for satellite operators

  23rd January 2018

  The US Army's Cyber Center of Excellence (USACCoE) has introduced a Wideband Training and Certification System (WTCS) for satellite operators, it was announced on 17 …

• Defence Notes

  Mattis gets bizarre Indonesian send off

  24th January 2018

  A soldier tore apart a snake with his teeth and his comrades headbutted flaming stacks of bricks as Indonesia's special forces treated visiting US defence …

• Training

  AECOM receives rotary wing training services contract

  22nd January 2018

  AECOM has received a nine-year contract from the US Army to provide rotary wing flight training instructor support services at Fort Rucker, Alabama, the company …

• Land Warfare

  SHOT Show 2018: Colt pitches new M5 internationally

  24th January 2018

  US arms manufacturer Colt is eyeing international sales for its newest M5 Enhanced Carbine, which wrapped up development last year and is now being pitched to …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Blackjack nears IOC on US Navy decks

  22nd January 2018

  Insitu is gearing up for IOC of its RQ-21A Blackjack with the US Navy in the second quarter of 2018 with FOC commencing in the …

• Digital Battlespace

  Philippine C4ISTAR contract awarded

  22nd January 2018

  The US has contracted Harris Corporation to deliver a C4ISTAR system to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), with the FMS deal priced at …

• Defence Helicopter

  USMC eyes up Super Cobra suitors

  24th January 2018

  The USMC is set to offload a surplus of Bell Helicopter AH-1W Super Cobras to FMS customers. Details of the development were recently disclosed by …

• Defence Notes

  More civilians killed as Turkey pursues Syria campaign

  29th January 2018

  Clashes and air strikes again hit Syria's border region of Afrin on 29 January, with new civilian casualties reported as Turkey pursued an offensive against …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Milrem targets US Army weaponised robot programme

  3rd January 2018

  Estonian-based company Milrem Robotics is entering 2018 with a firm focus on the US Army’s Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) initiative after losing out on the Squad …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Saab logs Sabertooth AUV order

  29th January 2018

  Saab has received a contract to deliver its Sabertooth autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) to an unnamed oil and gas customer.The order encompasses a number of …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Land 400 Phase 3 (Logistics, Ammunition Carrier and Mortar Carrier Variants) [Australia]

  Programme Background The Australian DoD released the initial RfI for the Land 400 Phase 3 programme in November 2015. Following consultations with local industry, the ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Land 400 Phase 3 (Amphibious Vehicles) [Australia]

  Programme Background The Australian DoD released the initial RfI for the Land 400 Phase 3 programme in November 2015. Following consultations with local industry, the ...

• Loitering munitions, Military UAS - micro

  Drone40 (Ukraine Aid) [Australia]

  Programme Background In August 2022, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), a think tank, held a podcast with Ukraine's ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, in which ...

• Landing craft and hovercraft

  Littoral Manoeuvre Vessel - Medium (Project Land 8710 Phase 1A) [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirements Australia has set out requirements for a fleet of up to 18 Littoral Manoeuvre Vessels - Medium (LMV-M) with the release of ...

• Main battle 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 ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Land 400 Phase 2 - Boxer CRV [Australia]

  Programme Background History The Land 400 Phase 2 programme will procure a replacement for the ASLAV, a derivative of the General Dynamics Land Systems Light Armoured Vehicle ...

• Main battle tanks

  Leopard 2A4 [Czech Republic]

  Programme Background  The Czech Republic currently operates a small fleet of T-72s, which, while undergoing upgrades and life extension programmes, are increasingly obsolete. In October ...

• Submarines: nuclear/attack

  Second Hand SSNs [Australia]

  Programme Background Timeline In September 2021, it was announced in a trilateral announcement between Australia, the US and the UK that Australia, in a shock ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | AUKUS-SSNs (1-5) [Australia]

  In September 2021, it was announced in a trilateral announcement between Australia, the US and the UK that Australia, in a shock move, will not ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | AUKUS-SSNs (1-5) [Australia]

  In September 2021, it was announced in a trilateral announcement between Australia, the US and the UK that Australia, in a shock move, will not ...

• Main battle tanks

  Viatura Blindada de Combate-Carro de Combate (VBC-CC) [Brazil]

  Programme Background Several key technical requirements have been outlined by the Brazilian MoD. Among the most important are that the platform should weigh less than ...

• Self-propelled rocket launchers

  HIMARS (Batch 2) [Australia]

  Programme background Prior to selecting HIMARS in January 2023, Australia did not operate an MLRS system. However, the effectiveness of Ukrainian HIMARS convinced the Australian government ...

• Military - USVs

  Bluebottle USV (16-55) [Australia]

  Programme Background Timeline The RAN purchased a number of the 6.8m-long Bluebottles, including five under an A$4.9 million ($3.3 million) contract signed in November 2022. ...

• Medium UGVs

  Mission Master (RPV Sprial 2) [UK]

  Background First announced in April 2017 and referred to in early MOD documents as the ‘last mile resupply’ initiative, the British Army is reportedly evaluating ...

• Main battle tanks

  M1A1 Abrams (Ukraine Aid) [Australia]

  Programme Background Since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Australia has been amongst the various Western allies providing Ukraine with military aid. Prior ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Crew-served assault/anti-tank weapons

  Carl-Gustaf M3

  The Carl-Gustaf M3 is the third generation of the 84mm shoulder-fired recoilless antitank gun, first fielded by the Swedish Army in 1946. Since then, it ...

• Unguided Tank Ammunition

  120mm KE DM63 / DM53 A1 Tank Ammunition

  The 120mm kinetic energy tank ammunition is manufactured by Rheinmetall. There are several variations of the ammunition, including the DM63, which can be fired from ...

• Unguided Tank Ammunition

  120MM HEAT-TP F1A

  Franco-German KNDS-Nexter produce the 120mm High-Explosive Anti-Tank Training-Purpose F1A (HEAT-TP F1A) round to enable reduced-cost training for Main Battle Tank crews. 

• Main battle tanks

  M1/M1A1 Abrams

  The 105mm-armed M1 Abrams tracked MBT was introduced into US Army service in 1980 as a replacement for the 105mm-armed M60 MBT. In April 1991, ...

• Unguided Tank Ammunition

  120mm PELE Tank Ammunition

  The 120mm Penetrator with Enhanced Lateral Effect (PELE) tank ammunition is an inert round produced by Rheinmetall. It is suitable for use against semi-hard targets ...

• Light mortars

  60mm Mortar Ammunition

  US-based LD Systems' 60mm Mortar ammunition fulfils the NATO standard for lightweight mortar ammunition.

• Crew-served assault/anti-tank weapons

  120mm L55A1

  The 120mm L55A1 is a smoothbore high-pressure gun based on the L55 tank gun. The L55A1 has been qualified and in service since 2019. It ...

• Naval: RF/IR/acoustic decoys

  Nulka

  The Nulka is an active anti-ship missile decoy originally conceived in Australia, and developed under a joint Australian-US programme. BAE Systems Australia is prime contractor, while ...

• Crew-served assault/anti-tank weapons

  120mm L55 Tank Gun

  The 120mm L55 is a smoothbore tank gun produced by Rheinmetall. It is designed for use on the Leopard main battle tank, to which it ...

• Main battle tanks

  M1A2 SEPv3

  The M1A2 System Enhancement Package 3 (M1A2 SEPv3, also known as M1A2C) is the latest production-standard variant of the Abrams MBT. Designed primarily to address ...

• Unguided Tank Ammunition

  M1147 Advanced Multi-Purpose (AMP)

  The M1147 Advanced Multi-Purpose (AMP) is a 120mm tank round developed by Northrop Grumman Defence Systems. Various customers, including Bahrain, Israel, and the US, use the tank ...

• Unguided Medium Calibre Ammunition

  Next Generation Combat Vehicle Ammunition

  The Next Generation Combat Vehicle Ammunition (NGVA) is a family of ammunition being developed by the US Army's Armaments Center and manufactured by General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems ...

• Land: tactical engagement simulators

  CVTESS

  Saab's Combat Vehicle Tactical Engagement Simulation System (CVTESS) is a laser-based simulator which supports every version of the Abrams Main Battle Tank and the Bradley ...

• Submarines: nuclear/attack

  SSN AUKUS

  The SSN-AUKUS will be the submarine design resulting from the AUKUS trilateral pact between Australia, the US and the UK. Expected to incorporate technology from ...

• Crew-served assault/anti-tank weapons

  Spike LR2

  The Spike LR2 (also known as NT-S) is Rafael's fifth-generation anti-tank guided missile system. It is a long-range, multi-purpose, multi-platform weapon designed for infantry, armored ...