• Defence Notes

  Aero India 2017: Indian fighters deliver déjà vu

  21st February 2017

  There was a strong sense of déjà vu at Aero India 2017, as the Indian Air Force (IAF) is yet again on a hunt for …

• Land Warfare

  IDEX 2017: New lease of life for Leclerc

  21st February 2017

  Following France's decision to begin upgrading its fleet of Leclerc main battle tanks, manufacturer Nexter is now hoping the United Arab Emirates – the type's …

• Naval Warfare

  IDEX 2017: Patria showcases Nemo (video)

  21st February 2017

  The fully containerised Nemo mortar solution was showcased by Patria at the IDEX exhibition with its compact form potentially providing a highly transportable capability for …

• Training

  Raytheon developing CCEWIF wargame tool

  20th February 2017

  Raytheon will develop an automated tool that assesses the effectiveness of using kinetic and non-kinetic weapons in wargames, the company announced on 16 February. The …

• Naval Warfare

  USCG receives 11th regenerated C-27J

  20th February 2017

  The United States Coast Guard (USCG) station in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, has received a newly regenerated C-27J Spartan medium range surveillance aircraft, the USCG …

• Land Warfare

  Elbit announces mortar systems contract

  20th February 2017

  Elbit Systems of America will supply mortar fire control systems to the US Army under an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity contract announced on 16 February.The …

• Military Logistics

  Lockheed Martin awarded eCASS contract

  20th February 2017

  Lockheed Martin will deliver 63 Electronic Consolidated Automated Support System (eCASS) stations to the US Navy under a $166 million contract, with full rate production …

• Special Operations

  US SOF looks at GPS 'out of the box'

  20th February 2017

  The US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) is exploring concepts for alternative Global Positioning System (GPS) solutions, with representatives announcing an upcoming government/industry collaborative event.The 'out …

• Land Warfare

  IDEX 2017: AMV28A takes on turret requirements

  20th February 2017

  Patria's new AMV28A 8x8 vehicle variant has been developed to take a larger payload while remaining an effective amphibious platform.A spokesperson for the company told …

• Defence Helicopter

  IDEX 2017: Sea Venom starts to spit

  20th February 2017

  European missile manufacturer MBDA is moving forward with trials of its Anglo-French Sea Venom anti-ship missile and is using this year's IDEX exhibition to promote …

• Land Warfare

  ​IDEX 2017: China enters with force

  20th February 2017

  Chinese companies have come out in force at this year's IDEX exhibition in Abu Dhabi, likely indicating a renewed sales drive in the region by …

• Defence Helicopter

  Aero India 2017: Airbus remains optimistic in India

  20th February 2017

  Although Airbus Helicopters has every reason to feel aggrieved over the protracted and chaotic nature of Indian military acquisitions – just consider the twice-aborted Reconnaissance …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  IDEX 2017: Ukraine assesses armed ground robots

  20th February 2017

  The Ukrainian government is in the final evaluation stage for an armed unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) concept known as 'Fantom'.Developed by the company Spets Techno …

• Land Warfare

  IDEX 2017: Lazar aims for Africa

  20th February 2017

  The new Lazar III 8x8 multi-role armoured vehicle, built by Serbia's Yugoimport, is being pushed towards the export market in Africa.A spokesperson from the company …

• Defence Helicopter

  Singapore’s new helicopter numbers revealed

  19th February 2017

  Singapore will receive 16 Airbus Helicopters H225M Caracals and ten Boeing CH-47F Chinooks as part of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Helicopter Group's …

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 ...

• Main battle tanks

  M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams [Poland]

  Background Requirement Since the early 2010s, Poland has wanted to upgrade its Soviet-era tank fleet due to modernisation requirements, the need to increase interoperability with NATO ...

• 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]

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

• 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

  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 ...

• Main battle tanks

  Leopard 2A4 [Czech Republic]

  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 2022, ...

• 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 ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Chios class LST replacement [Greece]

  Background Requirements The Hellenic Navy’s Chios-class tank landing ship platforms have been in service for almost 30 years. Shephard estimates they will start reaching their out-of-service date (OSD) ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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. ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Project Land 400 Phase 3 [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirement: 2015 RfI The Land 400 Phase 3 programme will procure a new tracked IFV to replace the Australian Army's legacy fleet of ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Project Air 7003 [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirement The Royal Australian Air Force has been without a UAS capability since the Heron was withdrawn in mid-2017. According to Defence Minister Linda Reynolds, ...

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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Land: RWS

  R400 Slinger

  The R400 Slinger is a counter-uncrewed aerial system (C-UAS) remote weapon system (RWS) being developed in Australia. The development is a response to growing international ...

• 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 ...