• Defence Notes

  Analysis: Saudi Arabia - A close customer (part 3 - maritime)

  18th December 2016

  We come to the last part on Saudi Arabia's defence relationship with the West, the maritime domain. This is less high profile than the land …

• Naval Warfare

  Australia issues OPV RfT

  29th November 2016

  Australia's planned build of 12 OPVs with the Sea 1180 programme gathering momentum after a request for tender (RfT) was issued to three companies on …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2016: Rheinmetall bags combat training contract

  21st November 2016

  Rheinmetall Simulation and Training has won an order worth €10 million ($10.7 million) to expand an existing live training facility in the Middle East-North Africa …

• Training

  I/ITSEC 2016: NATO field HQs go virtual

  30th November 2016

  NATO’s Allied Command Transformation (NATO-ACT) is using this year’s I/ITSEC to demonstrate a new virtual operational headquarters (VOHQ) concept, designed to bring personnel from different …

• Digital Battlespace

  TRS-4D radar finishes factory acceptance test

  14th November 2016

  Factory acceptance testing for the TRS-4D naval radar built for the US Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) 21 has been completed, clearing the way for …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  German Heron 1 UAS flies in Mali

  7th November 2016

  Germany's Heron 1 UAS has completed its first operational flight in support of the German Army’s mission in Mali on 1 November, Airbus Defence and Space …

• Naval Warfare

  Countdown to construction

  14th November 2016

  Australian industry is gearing itself up for a busy next few years as naval shipbuilding programmes firm up, part of a wider fleet regeneration programme …

• Land Warfare

  NATO nations to lead battalions in Baltic States

  4th November 2016

  At the NATO defence ministers meeting in Brussels in October, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced that Canada, Germany, the UK and the US will lead with …

• Training

  RAF receives A400M cargo hold trainer

  7th November 2016

  The British Royal Air Force (RAF) has taken delivery of an A400M Cargo Hold Trainer – Enhanced (CHT-E) from Rheinmetall and Airbus Defence and Space, Rheinmetall …

• Land Warfare

  Jumping in the Leopard pool

  20th October 2016

  The Netherlands signed an agreement with Germany on 13 October to combine some of their Leopard 2 main battle tank forces. It will also transfer …

• Digital Battlespace

  Upgraded navigation for German frigates

  21st October 2016

  France's iXblue has been selected to provide its Marins M3 and Netans N3 systems to the German Navy to upgrade two F122 Bremen-class frigates and four …

• Land Warfare

  Indo Defence 2016: Armour modernisation nears completion

  25th October 2016

  Rheinmetall is due to complete deliveries of the Leopard 2 RI main battle tank to Indonesia by March 2017. Indonesia ordered 61 Leopard RI MBTs …

• Defence Notes

  South Korea gets first Taurus missiles

  18th October 2016

  The first lot of Taurus KEPD 350K stand–off missiles have been handed over to the Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF) by MBDA Deutschland-Saab Dynamics …

• Digital Battlespace

  Gladius looks to future technology

  14th October 2016

  As the fourth batch of Germany’s Gladius soldier system is prepared for delivery next year, additional capabilities are being developed. In addition, Rheinmetall, which makes …

• Naval Warfare

  Euronaval 2016: Kazakhstan OPV signing expected soon

  18th October 2016

  German shipbuilders Abeking and Rasmussen are looking to sign a formal contract for a 60m OPV with Kazakhstan by the end of this year or …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• MPVs - 4x4

  VAMTAC ST5 (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) [Spain]

  Programme Background The VAMTAC ST5 is already in Spanish service with the Spanish Army, Navy, and Air Force in various configurations. In June 2025, the ...

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

  Render Safe Sets, Kits & Outfits (RS SKO) (UAV) [US]

  Programme Background Definition The RS SKO provides capabilities needed for Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams to render safe US and foreign ordnance and improvised explosive ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Puma IFV (Contracted)

  By March 2019, 269 of the 350 Pumas on order had been delivered to the German Army. Deliveries of the remaining 81 vehicles are scheduled ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Mine Countermeasures Platforms (1-12) [Germany]

  In 2018, the German Navy launched the process of acquiring a fleet of 11 Mine Countermeasures platforms. The German Navy's 'Force Structure Goals 2035+' foresees 12 ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Mine Countermeasures Platforms (1-12) [Germany]

  In 2018, the German Navy launched the process of acquiring a fleet of 11 Mine Countermeasures platforms. The German Navy's 'Force Structure Goals 2035+' foresees 12 ...

• Frigates

  MKS 180 Programme (5-6) [Germany]

  Programme Background Requirements The MKS 180 frigate programme for the Federal German Navy reflects the desire for the German government to become more engaged on ...

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

  Zielplan Marine 2035+ (Rotary-Wing UAVs) [Germany]

  Programme Background Zieplan Marine 2035+ Chancellor Olaf Scholz said at the 2022 Bundeswehr Conference that Germany must become the "cornerstone of conventional defence in Europe". ...

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

  Vector / Scorpion (Ukraine Aid) [Germany]

  Programme Background German Enablement Initiative On 18 April 2024, Quantum-Systems announced that German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck and Ukrainian Minister of Strategic Industry Alexander Kamyshin had opened the ...

• Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

  Heavy-lift Helicopter STH [Germany]

  Programme Background The German government issued a tender in March 2019 for the procurement of heavy-lift helicopters under the Schwerer Transporthubschrauber (STH) program, 60 units are ...

• Submarines: conventional, attack

  Type 212CD (1-2) [Germany]

  Programme Background Norway selected TKMS as the shipbuilder for its new class of Type 212CD submarines to replace the six Ula-class SSKs currently in service. ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Puma IFV (Germany - Second Batch)

  Programme Background The contract award for the second batch of Pumas had been delayed until 2022 at the earliest. However, in April 2021, German media ...

• Loitering munitions

  12,000 Loitering Munitions [Germany]

  Background Testing Models Between April 2023 and April 2025, the German Army acquired various loitering munitions to further assess their suitability for the German Armed ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Type 707 (1-2) [Germany]

  Programme Background Requirements The German Navy approved an acquisition to start replacing the two ageing Rhön-class (Type 704) class single-hulled tankers, which were constructed in the ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Puma IFV [Germany]

  Programme Background The SPD-led approach Since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Germany has been under consistent pressure to increase its defence spending. In the ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  LUCHS 2 Reconnaissance Vehicle [Germany]

  Programme Background The SPD-led approach Since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Germany has been under consistent pressure to increase its defence spending. In the ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• MPVs - 4x4

  Shrek

  The Shrek is an MRAP vehicle developed by the Streit Group in collaboration with the Ukrainian Kremenchug Automotive Plant (KrAZ). It is available in three ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  German HFTS

  Helicopter Flight Training Services (HFTS) was founded by the consortium of CAE, Airbus Helicopters, Thales and Rheinmetall Defence Electronics. Each company owns a 25% share ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  DURO IIIP

  The DURO IIIP (also known as the GMTF) 6x6 is a protected, mobile off-road armoured vehicle based on the DURO (Durable, Robust) family of 4x4 ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Fuchs 1

  Spanning now 8 variants, the Fuchs 1 is the German Army's longstanding wheeled armoured personnel carrier. The army received 1,125 Fuchs, with most delivered between 1979-86. ...

• Land: UGV simulators

  Remote Controlled Vehicle Simulation

  The Remote Controlled Vehicle Simulation is designed for users such as EOD forces.  Key features: use of original control devices; PC-based VR simulation; multiple scenarios ...

• Military - UUVs

  Bluefin-HAUV

  The Bluefin Hovering AUV (HAUV) is a two-man system used for ship hull and infrastructure inspection, port and harbour security and MCM. Operators are able ...

• Light UGVs

  Oto-TRP7-HS

  The Oto-TRP7-HS (Homeland Security) is a semi-autonomous, electric-powered, tracked UGV. It is designed to undertake a number of homeland security missions. 

• Land: Electronic Attack - Jamming

  Manpack-6 Bomb Ranger

  Manpack-6 is a portable jamming system that can be carried by a person in areas where there is a risk of encountering remoted controlled improvised ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Eagle V 6x6

  GDELS unveiled the fifth generation of its Eagle light tactical vehicle in both 4x4 and 6x6 models at Eurosatory 2012. The Eagle V has replaced ...

• Light UGVs

  Zeus

  NIC Instruments' Zeus UGV is a development of its First Responder (see separate entry) platform and was unveiled at Milipol Paris in November 2017. The company ...

• EO/IR systems

  Gyrocam 15DHD

  Gyrocam 15DHD is a 15in dual system that delivers HD and mid-wave thermal optics, in a modular payload that supports ISR missions. The 15DHD features ...

• Light UGVs

  Vanguard

  The Vanguard UGV is designed to provide mission support for EOD technicians in both law enforcement and the military. It can be deployed in EOD/IED ...

• Light UGVs

  Telemax tEODor PRO

  The Telemax EOD and observation robot (Telemax tEODor) PRO is designed to complement Cobham's tEODor UGV (see separate entry) by providing a smaller EOD robot ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Varan

  Streit unveiled the Varan 6x6 amphibious armoured vehicle at the IDEX defence exhibition in February 2013. The vehicle can be fitted with additional ballistic protection ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Eagle V 4x4

  GDELS unveiled the fifth generation of its Eagle light tactical vehicle at Eurosatory 2012. The platform has replaced earlier-generation vehicles in production. More than 1,250 ...