• Naval Warfare

  Portugal contracts Damen for multi-purpose vessel designed for integrated uncrewed air and sea systems

  27th November 2023

  The new ship’s primary roles will be search and rescue, emergency relief and oceanic research but will also be used for naval support operations and maritime safety.

• Digital Battlespace

  NATO selects companies for innovation hub

  13th December 2023

  NATO launched it DIANA programme in 2021 to provide a network of technology test centres and accelerator sites that harness civilian innovation within the defence industry.

• 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.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Ocius expands Bluebottle USV capabilities

  10th November 2023

  A growing number of uncrewed systems have been on show at Sydney's Indo-Pacific Maritime exhibition with a select few currently being trialled to see if they can enhance the Royal Australian Navy's surveillance levels.

• Training

  EU counter-IED exercise begins with 12 countries and 1,000 personnel

  7th November 2023

  Bison Counter 23 will include observers from Sweden, Latvia, Romania and the US, and has followed on from similar exercises in 2013, held in the Netherlands, 2016 (Sweden) and 2021 (Italy).

• Training

  Trilateral autonomous undersea warfare exercise tightens the bonds of AUKUS

  10th November 2023

  The Integrated Battle Problem 23-3 exercise brought together Australian, UK and US naval forces test to autonomous undersea warfare capabilities.

• Naval Warfare

  Japan unveils new FFM frigate with advanced anti-air warfare capabilities

  15th November 2023

  Japan’s ATLA procurement and logistics organisation was present in strength at the Indo-Pacific 2023 exhibition in Sydney from 7-9 November indicating an uplift in the country’s engagement with Australia.

• Naval Warfare

  ThayerMahan wins Office of Naval Research contract to expand capability of autonomous USV

  1st November 2023

  The company has proven success in undersea operations but has been pushing to improve capability and further demonstrate its systems' ability to provide surveillance.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Anduril's extra-large UUV Ghost Shark edges closer to production in Australia

  10th November 2023

  Australia has been focusing on uncrewed systems solutions as a way of expanding coverage of its extensive maritime exclusive economic zones and as a way of expanding mass for the Royal Australian Navy.

• Naval Warfare

  UK welcomes RFA Proteus, the UK’s first dedicated underwater surveillance ship

  11th October 2023

  The UK has commemorated the arrival of Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Proteus, the country's first ship dedicated to underwater surveillance, equipped with advanced capabilities and remotely-operated vehicles (ROVs) for seabed warfare operations.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  DSEI 2023: Greensea unites business units to to create underwater robotics powerhouse

  13th September 2023

  Greensea Systems, a company focused on software for underwater systems, announced its transformation into a larger business after uniting its former subsidiaries Bayonet Ocean Vehicles and Armach Robotics into a new entity.

• Naval Warfare

  TKMS enters Australian Tier 2 combatant market

  9th November 2023

  TKMS has joined the competition to meet the Australian Defence Strategic Review’s (DSR’s) desite to procure a new Tier 2 surface combatant for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

• Naval Warfare

  Polish Navy Miecznik-class frigates to be fitted with TACTICOS integrated combat management system

  6th October 2023

  The multirole Miecznik-class frigates will be equipped with a set of sensors developed by Thales with the first ship scheduled to enter service in 2029.

• Naval Warfare

  SSN-AUKUS contract sets foundation for future UK-Australian capability

  27th October 2023

  The £3.95 billion (US$4.8 billion) contract awarded by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to BAE Systems earlier this month was the firing gun that truly started the UK-Australian project for a future nuclear-powered attack submarine.

• Naval Warfare

  Dutch navy launches new rMCM vessel

  20th October 2023

  The first new Mine Countermeasures Vessel (MCMV) for the Royal Netherlands Navy was launched in a ceremony at the Kership Joint Venture shipyard in Concarneau on 19 October 2023.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Multirole Underwater Seabed Surveillance Ship (MU3S) [Italy]

  Programme Background Requirements According to the presentation provided by the Italian Navy, the MultiroleUnderwater Seabed Surveillance Ship (MU3S) will:operate a wide range of uncrewed systems, ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Multirole Underwater Seabed Surveillance Ship (MU3S) [Italy]

  In June 2024, during a presentation provided at the NATO Maritime Security Centre of Excellence (MARSEC COE), the Italian Navy detailed the new capabilities it ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Multirole Underwater Seabed Surveillance Ship (MU3S) [Italy]

  In June 2024, during a presentation provided at the NATO Maritime Security Centre of Excellence (MARSEC COE), the Italian Navy detailed the new capabilities it ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Buques de Acción Marítima de Intervención Subacuática (BAM-IS) [Spain]

  Programme Background Timeline On 5 November 2021, the Spanish MoD signed a contract for Navantia to build a new submarine rescue vessel at its Puerto ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | AUKUS-SSNs/SSN(R) Astute Replacement Programme [UK]

  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has begun the planning process for the Astute class replacement programme referred to as SSN-Replacement (SSN(R)). In September 2021, it was announced ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | AUKUS-SSNs/SSN(R) Astute Replacement Programme [UK]

  The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has begun the planning process for the Astute class replacement programme referred to as SSN-Replacement (SSN(R)). In September 2021, it was announced ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Special & Diving Operations-Submarine Rescue Ship (SDO-SURS) [Italy]

  Programme Background Requirements The programme aims to develop a new vessel capable of replacing the ageing Anteo that has reached the end of its life cycle with ...

• Minehunters

  Kormoran II Class MCM (4-6) [Poland]

  Programme Background Timeline As of March 2022, the Kormoran II-class consists of six minehunters for the Polish Navy. However, as of June 2022, only one vessel has been ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  T-AGOS Surtass Ships (6-7) [USN]

  Programme Background Requirements The Auxiliary General Ocean Surveillance (T-AGOS) ships focus on gathering underwater acoustical data to support the mission of the Integrated Undersea Surveillance ...

• OPVs

  Kingston Class Replacement [Canada]

  Programme Background Requirements Under the second pillar of its shipbuilding strategy, Canada is seeking to procure an undisclosed number of small vessels (below 1000t). Part ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Multi-Purpose Vessels (MPVs) (1-2) [India]

  Programme Background Requirements The units will perform multi-role support functions such as maritime surveillance & patrol, launching/recovery of torpedoes and operation of various types of ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - small

  T-150 (Royal Marines) [UK]

  Background Trials In late 2020, the T-150 participated in Autonomous Advance Force (AAF) trials in Crpyus and dropped supplies to 40 Commando. The MoD also ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Future Littoral All Terrain Mobility – Patrol Vehicle [Netherlands]

  Programme Background The Netherlands is currently enhancing its military capabilities across multiple domains. The Royal Netherlands Navy is in the process of expanding both its surface ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Skeldar V-200 Dutch Navy

  Programme Background The Dutch Ministry of Defence issued a notice seeking information regarding the potential acquisition of a vertical takeoff and landing unmanned aerial vehicle ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Skeldar V-200 Belgian Navy

  Programme Background For the joint MCM programme between Belgium and the Netherlands, the Dutch Ministry of Defence issued a notice calling for information regarding the ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• 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 ...

• Military - UUVs

  Uncrewed Combat Underwater Vehicle (UCUV)

  The Uncrewed Combat Underwater Vehicle (UCUV) is an uncrewed underwater vessel (UUV) being developed and built by France's Naval Group for the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA).

• Sea: tactical training

  DUNKER Helicopter Underwater Egress Training Facility

  The DUNKER Helicopter Underwater Egress Training (HUET) Facility has been developed by Turkish defence manufacturer Meteksan Savunma Sanayi for the local Naval Forces. It is ...

• Naval: Radio and SATCOM

  UT 3000 2G

  The UT 3000 2G is an underwater communications system designed and built by ELAC SONAR. Offered in both underwater and surface configurations, it is in ...

• Land: coastal surveillance radars

  SeaShield

  The SeaShield is a long-range underwater surveillance and warning system manufactured by DSIT Solutions in Israel. According to the manufacturer, it is an ASW system that provides ...

• Military - UUVs

  V-Fides

  The V-Fides is an AUV developed by Leonardo that can be employed both in civilian and surveillance missions. The range of possible missions includes archaeological research, underwater ...

• UAS: communication systems

  GIB SAR

  The portable GIB SAR is an underwater GPS tracking system. By combining four buoys and a deck unit, which can be installed either on a ...

• Military - UUVs

  Manta Ray

  Manta Ray is an uncrewed underwater vessel (UUV) developed by Northrop Grumman.

• Military - UUVs

  BlueWhale

  BlueWhale is an autonomous uncrewed underwater vessel (UUV) developed by Israel's Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).

• UAS: communication systems

  GIB FT

  The GIB FT portable torpedo and UUV tracking range is composed of a set of buoys that receives acoustic signals transmitted by the pingers mounted ...

• Swimmer delivery vehicles

  FWS-5 Barracuda

  The FWS-5 Barracuda represents the latest variant in a long line of SDV technology manufactured by Emirates Marine Technology. Capable of carrying two operators, the ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

  Blackwing

  Manufactured by AeroVironment and based on the Switchblade loitering munition, the Blackwing is a tube-launched UAV designed to deliver rapid ISR capabilities through its EO/IR ...

• Military - UUVs

  A18-T

  The A18-T is a multirole configured AUV designed by Exail. The twin-hull platform is designed to perform missions such as mine countermeasures and harbour security, hydrographic littoral ...

• Military - UUVs

  Orca

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

• Sea: sonar systems

  AquaShield

  The AquaShield diver detection sonar (DDS) provides long-range detection. The modular design allows tailoring of the system for site-specific geography. It can handle over 1,000 ...