• Defence Notes

  Has the US lost the plot in South China Sea?

  23rd June 2017

  As the South China Sea transforms into a spider web of interconnected military facilities designed to lock out uninvited guests, one would have thought that …

• Defence Helicopter

  Paris Air Show: Test pilot talks CH-53K (video)

  26th June 2017

  While the CH-53K was not present at this year's Paris Air Show, Shephard had the opportunity to speak with Lt Col Jonathan Morel, CH-53K government chief …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Counter-UAS options continue to grow

  27th June 2017

  The increasing popularity of drones, in all shapes and sizes, has brought to light a whole assortment of new security threats, including the growing hazard …

• Defence Notes

  Paris Air Show: Kenya close to ‘Longsword’ contract

  23rd June 2017

  L3 Technologies expects to receive a contract to supply 12 new AT-802L ‘Longsword’ light-attack aircraft to Kenya later this year, after an FMS case was …

• Naval Warfare

  Piracy threat off West Africa remains

  27th June 2017

  Anti-piracy watchdog Oceans Beyond Piracy (OBP) released its annual report on the state of global maritime security recently, highlighting trends in pirate activities around the …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  USAF Block 50 GCS passes CDR

  28th June 2017

  General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has successfully completed the critical design review (CDR) of the US Air Force’s (USAF) Advanced Cockpit Block 50 Ground Control Station …

• Land Warfare

  USMC rolls out upgraded LAV-ATM

  28th June 2017

  The first two Light Armoured Vehicle Anti-Tank Modernisation (LAV-ATM) A2 models equipped with the Modified Target Acquisition System (MTAS) turret have rolled off the line …

• Defence Helicopter

  Analysis: New Indian naval helicopters dashed again

  26th June 2017

  An Indian Navy (IN) deal valued at over $1 billion for 16 Multirole Helicopters (MRH) was given a quiet burial after being scrapped by the …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Paris Air Show: Experts focus on Korean border

  23rd June 2017

  Autonomous Device Experts is putting forward the Vivace UAS and Pathfinder seismic detection sensor for possible use by South Korea along sensitive border areas. The …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Paris Air Show: Patroller integration continues

  19th June 2017

  The French Army is continuing efforts to integrate the Patroller UAV into its force structure following the recent announcement that it will receive two systems …

• Defence Helicopter

  Sikorsky to support CH-53D helicopters

  27th June 2017

  Sikorsky has won a contract from Israel's Ministry of Defense to supply spare parts and associated engineering services in support of the CH-53D heavy lift …

• Land Warfare

  Portugal clears way for small arms refresh

  12th June 2017

  The Portuguese Ministry of National Defense has authorised the country’s army to acquire small arms and associated sights, equipment and services, through the NATO Support …

• Digital Battlespace

  EW Europe: Northrop's RWR nears production

  9th June 2017

  The updated AN/APR-39D(V)2 radar warning receiver/electronic warfare management system from Northrop Grumman is starting production. The system would begin full rate production in July and …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Paris Air Show: Additional payload requirement for MEUAS III

  22nd June 2017

  The NAVAIR and MEUSS III awards announced recently, which will enable Textron Systems to put itself forward for future UAS-based tasking orders, has been met positively …

• Naval Warfare

  Chinese exercise reveals new Iranian capability

  21st June 2017

  The visit by a Chinese naval fleet to Iran has revealed a possible upgrade to an Iranian frigate. The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) made …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  MQ-1 Gray Eagle [US Army]

  Background Required Quantity Although the US Army first envisioned a requirement for 132 MQ-1C Gray Eagles, the US Army's Army Acquisition Objective (AAO) was increased ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Stryker DVH [USA]

  Background The US Army has been operating the Stryker since 2002. The Stryker DVH is an upgraded variant that has additional armour on its underside ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  JLTV (US Army) (Batch 1) [USA]

  Background As of January 2021, the US DoD had signed 15 contracts with Oshkosh Defense covering the delivery of approximately 17,731 JLTVs to all branches ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Heavy Lift VTOL (HVTOL) [US Army]

  Background USMC First, Army Second In September 2021, Kaman unveiled its Kargo UAV, specifically designed to meet the requirements of the Joint Tactical Autonomous Aerial Resupply ...

• Main battle tanks

  Decisive Lethality Platform [USA]

  Background The DLP is one of five vehicle families being developed for the US Army's NGCV programme. Expanded to include five programmes in October 2018, ...

• Military UAS - micro

  eBee Vision [US]

  Background Multiple orders In November 2025, the US Army acquired three eBee Vision systems to enhance training operations at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Germany. A ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  AMPV [USA]

  Background Platform development The US Army initiated the AMPV programme to acquire a replacement for several variants of the M113 tracked APC, which has been ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Stryker (Sergeant Stout) (Batch 2) [USA]

  Background As part of the Army Transformation Initiative, the US DoD is fundamentally reorganising the structure of the US Army. The development of the Sergeant ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) (Increment 2) [US Army]

  Programme Background Programme Objective The Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) was to provide a tactical ISTAR capability for US Army Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs). It was intended to ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) (Increment 1) [USA]

  Programme Background Programme Objective The Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS) was to provide a tactical ISTAR capability for US Army Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs). It was ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Stryker (Sergeant Stout) [USA]

  Background As part of the Army Transformation Initiative, the US DoD is fundamentally reorganising the structure of the US Army. As part of this all Infantry Brigade ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Mobile Tactical Cannon [USA]

  Background The US Army began using the M777 in 1995. Since then, it has served as a field artillery piece providing fire support for American ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  UH-72 Follow-On [USA]

  Programme Background In March 2019, Airbus stated that it expected orders from the US Army for between 12 and 15 UH-72A helicopters. In March 2020, ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

  Group 4/5 UAV [US Army]

  Background Request for Information (RFI) On 5 June 2024, the American DoD published an RfI with an original response date of 19 July 2024. The ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Short Range Reconnaissance (SRR) [Tranche 1] / Rucksack Portable UAS (RPUAS) (USA)

  Programme Background The Rucksack Portable UAS (RPUAS) Programme The RPUAS programme will provide the Battalion and below-ground manoeuvre elements within the US Army with an ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  US Army AVCATT PDSS

  L3Harris Technologies is the prime contractor for the US Army’s Aviation Combined Arms Tactical Trainer (AVCATT) Post Deployment Software Support (PDSS) programme. L3Harris Technologies is ...

• 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. 

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  US Army Flight School XXI OFT/RCTD

  L3Harris Technologies is a major subcontractor to CSC on the US Army’s Flight School XXI (FSXXI) programme. L3Harris Technologies has built or is under contract ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  OH-58 Kiowa

  The single-engine OH-58 Kiowa, derived from the Bell 206, entered US Army service in 1969 as a light observation helicopter. More than 2,200 were built for ...

• Towed guns

  M198

  The US Army developed the M198 155mm towed howitzer from 1969 to replace the M114 155mm howitzer. From 1978, 1,600 weapons were built by Rock ...

• Towed mortars

  M120/M120A1

  The M120/M120A1 120 mm Towed Mortar System is a US-built version of the Soltam K6 mortar that was accepted into US Army service in 1990.

• Light tanks

  M10 Booker

  The US Army awarded General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) a contract worth US$1.14 billion to supply 96 light tanks under the Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  UH-72A/B Lakota

  In 2006, the US Army selected a version of the medium-sized, twin-engine H145, designated the UH-72A Lakota,  to meet its requirement for a new Light ...

• Armoured engineer vehicles

  M1150 ABV

  The M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicle (ABV) project, launched by the USMC in 2002, is a joint programme to meet the requirements of both the US ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  RQ-7 Shadow 200

  The Shadow 200, designated RQ-7B by the US Army, is flown by the army brigade combat teams and combat aviation brigades along with the UAV ...

• Land: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  AN/PLQ-9 Thor-III

  Sierra Nevada’s AN/PLQ-9 Thor-III is the standard Counter Improvised Explosive Device (CIED) manpack system in service with the US Army and US Marine Corps (USMC). ...

• Individual grenade launchers

  M320 GLM

  The M320 Grenade Launcher Module (GLM) is a further development of the HK AG36 (see separate entry) to meet a US Army requirement. The M320 ...

• Unguided Mortar Ammunition

  M821A3 High Explosive Mortar Round

  The M821A3 High Explosive Mortar Round is an 81mm mortar round manufactured by Day & Zimmerman for the US Army.

• Unguided Mortar Ammunition

  M933A1 High Explosive Mortar Round

  The M933A1 High Explosive Mortar Round is a 120mm mortar round manufactured by Day & Zimmermann for the US Army.

• Unguided Mortar Ammunition

  M934A1 High Explosive Mortar Round

  The M934A1 High Explosive Mortar Round is a 120mm mortar round produced by Day & Zimmermann for the US Army.