• Naval Warfare

  Austal USA awarded $867 million for three hospital ships

  22nd December 2023

  The US Navy’s new Expeditionary Medical Ships (EMS) will be designated Bethesda Class EMS and first of class will be called USNS Bethesda.

• Air Warfare

  Greece favours Leonardo AW139 over Black Hawk and H175 as Super Puma replacement

  12th December 2023

  Greece’s air force has said it has been leaning towards the Leonardo AW139 multirole military helicopter as the Super Puma replacement, pending official approval, marking a potential shift in its search and rescue capabilities.

• 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.

• Air Warfare

  Lithuania orders three Airbus H145 helicopters for various roles

  4th December 2023

  Lithuania has secured a deal with Airbus Helicopters for three H145M multi-mission aircraft for special forces operations and other roles, as part of the country's attempt to strengthen its defence capabilities.

• Air Warfare

  Embraer C-390 triumphs in South Korea's transport aircraft competition

  5th December 2023

  Embraer's C-390 Millennium has secured a contract with South Korea, outperforming industry rivals such as Lockheed Martin and Airbus, marking a pivotal moment as the nation is set to become the first C-390 customer in Asia.

• Land Warfare

  NATO tests robotic capabilities at multi-domain operations trials

  2nd November 2023

  The 2023 Next-Generation Communication Networks Technology event featured innovative technologies transforming the battlefield, including drones, ground-robotic systems and a robot dog.

• Naval Warfare

  First Heritage-class cutter for US Coast Guard launched

  31st October 2023

  The US Coast Guard (USCG) has placed contracts for four Heritage-class offshore patrol cutters (OPCs), with plans in place to order as many as nine, as part of an effort to replace the service’s Famous Cutter and Reliance classes.

• Naval Warfare

  Singapore orders new OPVs for renewed maritime security force

  21st November 2023

  The Singapore Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) has ordered new Offshore Patrol Vessels from German shipbuilder Fassmer to modernise its maritime security forces.

• Air Warfare

  Norway joins the MH-60 Seahawk fraternity

  27th October 2023

  Norway joins five operators of the MH-60 naval helicopter plus Spain, which ordered its first eight MH-60R aircraft earlier this month, and Greece, which is yet to receive its first example.

• Air Warfare

  Poland receives first two AW149 helicopters

  31st October 2023

  This acquisition was the result of a signed US$2 billion contract for 32 AW149 helicopters announced in mid-June 2022.

• Air Warfare

  UK Protector surveillance UAV begins trials

  24th October 2023

  A new uncrewed Royal Air Force aircraft, capable of global surveillance operations, will begin trials in the UK this week.

• Air Warfare

  Ireland receives second C295 MPA

  18th October 2023

  Ireland now has two Airbus Defence and Space C295 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) which have replaced two CN235-100 MPAs purchased for the Irish Air Corps in 1994.

• Naval Warfare

  Argentina maritime patrol boosted with P-3C Orion purchase from Norway

  20th October 2023

  The Argentine Navy will undertake long-range maritime patrol and surveillance missions with a fleet of four ex-Norwegian P-3 Orion aircraft under a deal announced by Argentina on 17th October.

• Training

  Team Fisher achieves final milestone in Royal Navy training contract

  3rd October 2023

  Team Fisher, the Capita-led consortium overseeing the Royal Navy’s data and technology-focused training transformation programme Selborne, has completed the final milestone outlined in its original contract to expedite frontline personnel training.

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2023: Climate change – how military training will need to adapt

  25th November 2023

  How climate change poses various challenges and risks to defence training, readiness and infrastructure.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Submarines: conventional/attack

  Type 206/209 Replacement (PLOTEOS) [Colombia]

  Programme Background Requirements The 2042 "Plan de Desarrollo Naval" (Naval Development Plan) outlines the intention to procure four new SSKs for the Colombian Navy. In ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Sistema RPAS Táctico de Altas Prestaciones (SiRTAP) [Colombia]

  Background MoU In 2017, it was announced that Spain was jointly developing a MALE UAV with Colombia to meet the ISR requirement of both armed ...

• Military UAS - small

  Search And Rescue (SAR) UAV [USCG]

  Background Need for Drones In 2023, a US Naval Institute (USNI) article noted the impact UAVs could have on search and rescue (SAR) operations within ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Sistema RPAS Táctico de Altas Prestaciones (SiRTAP) [Serbia]

  Background MoU In 2017, it was announced that Spain was jointly developing an MALE UAV with Colombia to meet the ISR requirement of both armed ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  AW149

  The AW149s are being used for utility, search and rescue, emergency medical service and troop transport tasks.

• Military UAS - MALE

  Sistema RPAS Táctico de Altas Prestaciones (SiRTAP) [Spain]

  Background MoU In 2017, it was announced that Spain and Colombia were jointly developing a MALE UAV to meet the ISR requirements of both countries’ ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  H-145M-Luxembourg

  With a MTOW of 3.7t, the H145M can be used for a wide range of tasks, including troop and passenger transport, surveillance, air rescue, reconnaissance ...

• Military helicopters - light/training

  AW119 Koala-Portugal

  The order includes options for a further two aircraft. The helicopters will be deployed in a range of missions, including training, MEDEVAC, troop transport and ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  Spain HT-29 Caiman (NH90 TTH) - Air Force Second Batch

  The HT-29 Caiman will replace AS332 Super Puma fleet in service with the Spanish Air Force. The Spanish version of the NH90 TTHs can perform ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Submarine Rescue Vessel (Ratownik) [Poland]

  Background Timeline For a long time, Poland has been trying to procure submarine rescue vessels. A contract for the acquisition of up to two such ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  Spain HT-29 Caiman (NH90 TTH) - Air Force First Batch

  The HT-29 Caiman will replace AS332 Super Puma fleet in service with the Spanish Air Force. The Spanish version of the NH90 TTHs can perform ...

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  A400M-Spain

  In December 2018, Spain Air Force took delivery of its first A400M. The aircraft will be operated by the Air Transport Wing (ATW) 31 of the ...

• Military UAS - small

  Nauru 500C [Brazil]

  Background Delivery On 10 October 2024, the Maritime Search and Rescue Service (SALVAMAR), part of the Brazilian Navy, took delivery of the Nauru 500C, designated ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Navajo Class (T-ATS) [USN]

  Programme Background Requirements The US Navy (USN) are replacing the ageing three remaining T-ATF 166 class tugboats and two remaining T-ARS 50 class ships with ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  AW101-Norway

  AgustaWestland is also providing initial support and training services, including spares at each of the operating bases and aircrew training. It will then provide performance ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Light machine guns

  K3/K3 Para

  The K3 5.56mm light machine gun was developed to replace the 7.62mm M60 in service with Republic of Korea Army (ROKA) infantry squads. The K3 ...

• Light machine guns

  FN Minimi 7.62 Mk3

  In the 1970s, the FN Minimi was developed in 5.56mm and 7.62mm variants before NATO standardised on 5.56mm for light weapons. In 2002, the 7.62mm ...

• Land: battle management systems, Land: fire control systems

  SITUAR

  Developed by Avibras, SITUAR ( Sistema Integrado Tático Universal para Artilharia) is a universal tactical integrated artillery command and control system. It allows various artillery ...

• Light machine guns

  FN Minimi 5.56 Mk3

  The original FN Minimi 5.56 was developed in the 1970s to meet the requirements of NATO nations for an LMG and is now in service ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  MDM-HF

  The MDM-3001, MDM-2201 and MDM-2501 multi-mode HF data modems provide single-tone (serial) HF data communications capability in accordance with the requirements of MIL-STD-188-110A (para 5.3). ...

• UAS: Integrated systems - uncrewed

  skyISTAR

  skyISTAR is a platform-agnostic sensor mission management system. Its service-orientated architecture eases system reconfiguration and the introduction of different sensor suites to match a range ...

• Suppressors

  FA556MG

  The Fast Attach 5.56mm Machine Gun sound suppressor (FA556MG) is designed for use on the M249, MK46 or Para versions of the Minimi M249 SAW.  ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  RF-7800H-MP

  The L3Harris RF-7800H-MP is a manpack HF radio with expanded data capabilities for long-range communications. First delivered in 2012, it remains in service with several militaries ...

• Maritime patrol

  ATR 72MP

  The ATR 72MP is a twin-turboprop aircraft optimised for maritime patrol missions. It is built by the Franco-Italian ATR consortium, a JV between Airbus and Leonardo.

• Air: Integrated cockpit systems

  Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS)

  Developed by Collins Aerospace, the Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS) is based on the Flight2 open system architecture design and includes an advanced hardware, software ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  AN/PRC-112G CSAR Transceiver

  The software-defined, upgradeable AN/PRC-112G Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) Transceiver sends encrypted global positioning, two-way messages and identification, providing location and rescue information. The single, ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Poseidón - Underwater Intervention Maritime Action Vessel (BAM-IS)

  The Buques de Acción Marítima de Intervención Subacuática (BAM-IS), Poseidon (A-21), is a submarine rescue vessel being built by Navatia. The ship will enter service ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

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

  The Special & Diving Operations-Submarine Rescue Ship (SDO-SURS) is a Submarine Rescue Ship set to join the Italian Navy by 2025. In June 2021, the Italian ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  Helicopter Underwater Escape Training Simulator (HUET)

  The Helicopter Underwater Escape Trainer (HUET) facility is designed and built by Meteksan Defence based on international standards and OPITO criteria (an international organization defining qualification ...

• Air: Integrated cockpit systems, Air: mission management systems

  ASARS-G

  The Airborne Search and Rescue System (ASARS) consists of the ARS-700G installed in CSAR aircraft. This communicates with personal survival radios (PSRs) such as the ...