• Digital Battlespace

  Pentagon warns of cyber weakness

  20th January 2017

  Many US DoD networks, and the majority of the department's current acquisition programmes, are not capable of preventing nation-state adversaries from executing cyber attacks. According …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  ARL demonstrates hoverbike prototype

  20th January 2017

  The US Army Research Laboratory (ARL) and industry partners have carried out a demonstration of the in-development unmanned hoverbike technology prototype to Department of Defense …

• Land Warfare

  US Army tests cluster-bomb round replacement

  20th January 2017

  A new artillery warhead is being tested by the US Army in an effort to help reduce unwanted casualties caused by cluster-bomb rounds. Current dual-purpose …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Northern Plains granted flight upgrade

  20th January 2017

  The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted the Northern Plains UAS test site in North Dakota authorisation to fly large UAVs beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS), starting …

• Land Warfare

  Indian Spike buy ahead

  20th January 2017

  The Indian Army is on the verge of acquiring the Israeli Spike anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) systems to equip its infantry battalions and mechanised units. …

• Land Warfare

  New mortar proposals imminent

  20th January 2017

  Industry is set to begin competing for the first phase of the US Army's High Explosive Guided Mortar.   An Orbital ATK spokesperson told Shephard …

• Digital Battlespace

  Israeli Air Force gets Arrow-3 interceptors

  20th January 2017

  Arrow-3 interceptors developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) MLM division have been formally integrated into the Israeli Air Force’s Arrow Weapon System (AWS), the company …

• Defence Helicopter

  CH-53K experiences engine heat issues

  20th January 2017

  Engine heating issues appear to be the major lesson of the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) FY2016 annual report for the CH-53K programme. The Heavy Lift …

• Defence Notes

  UDT Asia: Saab torpedo develops

  20th January 2017

  A new lightweight torpedo being developed by Saab for the Royal Swedish Navy (RSwN) will be integrated onto its future submarines. Dubbed Torpedo 47, it will replace …

• Special Operations

  SHOT Show: Kalashnikov reborn (video)

  20th January 2017

  The AK-47 is an iconic rifle that has shaped warfare for several decades, being utilised on most battlefields by militaries and non-state groups. Now, Kalashnikov …

• Special Operations

  SHOT Show: Steiner's laser focus (video)

  19th January 2017

  Rifle optics specialists Steiner has brought an array of products to this year's SHOT Show in Las Vegas, including laser devices, flashlights and helmet-mounted night …

• Special Operations

  SHOT Show: Daniel Defense introduces new rifles (video)

  19th January 2017

  Daniel Defense will introduce two new rifles this year including a short-barrelled 5.56mm product and a lightweight 7.62mm rifle, both of which could see potential …

• Defence Helicopter

  CPI awarded contract for AH-1Z assemblies

  19th January 2017

  CPI Aerostructures will continue to manufacture engine cowl assemblies and support assemblies for the AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter under a $14.8 million IDIQ contract from …

• Defence Helicopter

  K-MAX airframe delivered

  19th January 2017

  Kaman Aerosystems has delivered the first K-MAX airframe from its reopened production line in Jacksonville, Florida, the company announced on 17 January. The airframe has …

• Naval Warfare

  White Paper calls for USN shipbuilding increase

  19th January 2017

  The US Senate Armed Services Committee has in a new white paper called for an increase in shipbuilding for the US Navy with additional submarines …

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 ...

• 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]

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

• Main battle tanks

  M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams [Poland]

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

• 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

  Leopard 2A4 [Czech Republic]

  Programme 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | AUKUS-SSNs (1-5) [Australia]

  In September 2021, it was announced in a trilateral announcement between Australia, the US and the UK that Australia, in a shock move, will not ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | AUKUS-SSNs (1-5) [Australia]

  In September 2021, it was announced in a trilateral announcement between Australia, the US and the UK that Australia, in a shock move, will not ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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. ...

• 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 ...

• Main battle tanks

  M1A1 Abrams (Ukraine Aid) [Australia]

  Programme Background Since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Australia has been amongst the various Western allies providing Ukraine with military aid. Prior ...

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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• 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 ...

• Crew-served assault/anti-tank weapons

  Spike LR2

  The Spike LR2 (also known as NT-S) is Rafael's fifth-generation anti-tank guided missile system. It is a long-range, multi-purpose, multi-platform weapon designed for infantry, armored ...