Naval Warfare

US completes MK 18 UUV programme of record

6th February 2023

Since the initial production lot, over 90 MK 18 Mod 2 UUVs have been provided to the USN.

Air Warfare

Aerosonde UAV makes first operational flight from USS Miguel Keith

3rd February 2023

The Textron UAS is also deployed on three other USN ships.

Naval Warfare

SH Defence’s Cube system gains more naval partners

3rd February 2023

The modular system from the Danish company has drawn the attention of maritime companies from around the globe.

Digital Battlespace

BAE nets US Navy networks contract

2nd February 2023

The CANES programme aims to modernise the USN's afloat network capabilities.

Defence Helicopter

Royal Navy helicopter crews transfer control of UAS in European first

2nd February 2023

Using technology supplied by QinetiQ, two Royal Navy helicopter crews successfully exchanged control of a UAS while in flight.

Naval Warfare

BAE contracts Norwegian shipyard for Type 26 composite work

2nd February 2023

Norway’s Umoe Mandal will build masts and other structures for five more Type 26 frigates.

Digital Battlespace

Lockheed Martin satellite with military potential rolls out for 2023 maiden launch

1st February 2023

The low-cost LM 400 satellite bus is customisable for multiple applications and supports the Pentagon's Modular Open Systems Architecture for defence missions.

Defence Notes

Airbus to define next generation of European military helicopters

31st January 2023

Airbus Helicopters has been selected to coordinate a European R&D programme looking at military rotorcraft operational needs post-2030, and is also leading on a study for a defence collaborative cloud.

Special operations vehicles

LTTV

Programme Background The LTTV is to equip the combat support and combat service support elements of the Belgian SOF and the Belgian Army's two Ranger ...

Military helicopters - transport/heavy lift

NH90 Special Forces (France)

Programme Background In French service, advanced H225M Caracals with aerial refuelling capabilities are used by SOF units of the French Air Force (FAF) and French ...

Special operations vehicles

Pegaz Special Operations Vehicles

Programme BackgroundRequirementThe Polish MoD has a long-standing requirement to procure a new 4x4 tactical vehicle to replace the M1165A1 HMMWVs and Oshkosh M-ATVs currently in ...

APCs/IFVs - 4x4, Special operations vehicles

SOF Vehicles (Bulgaria)

Programme Background The Bulgarian MoD is investing in the modernisation of the Bulgarian Armed Forces by procuring new equipment for all of its branches, including ...

Special operations vehicles

Zmag SOF Vehicle (Israel)

Programme Background Originally designed by and marketed by Ido Cohen, the Zmag is part of a family of ATVs aimed at both civilian and military customers. In ...

Special operations vehicles

Zmag SOF Vehicle (Israel - Options)

Programme Background Originally designed by and marketed by Ido Cohen, the Zmag is part of a family of ATVs aimed at both civilian and military customers. In ...

Special operations vehicles

SOV-Cdo Replacement (Australia)

Programme Background The Australian MoD plans to invest in new equipment for its SOF units to allow the ADF to respond more effectively and more ...

Special operations vehicles

Neton VLOE

Programme Background The VLOE will replace several variants of the VLOE Lathar (a SOF vehicles based on the Nissan Patrol ML-6 COTS chassis) currently in ...

Special operations vehicles

Neton VLOE - (Spain - Navy)

Programme Background Information regarding the Spanish Navy's procurement of the Einsa Neton remains limited, however, it is likely that decisions to procure the platform arose from ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini

FlyEye - First & Second Batch (Poland)

Programme Background First Batch Before receiving a contract to supply Poland's Territorial Defence Force with FlyEye systems, WB Group had previously supplied earlier versions of ...

Special operations vehicles

VMOE

Programme Background The Spanish Army's SOF units are procuring the VMOE to meet their requirements for an SOV with sufficient firepower, mobility and mine-protection to ...

Military helicopters - multirole

UH-60M (Croatia)

Programme Background Croatia has been transitioning its armed forces to western technology, with support from the US. The first two UH-60M helicopters are donations from ...

Special operations vehicles

PLFS

Programme Background The Sabre, then known as the Sherpa FS, was developed as a response to a 2014 requirement for three types of new vehicles ...

Submarines: nuclear, attack

Virginia Class Attack Submarine (SSN 812 - SSN 821)

Programme Background The US Navy’s Virginia-class submarines (SSN 774) are built by both General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB) and Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) under an ...

Special operations vehicles

LL-UTV (Contracted)

Programme Background The LL-UTV is intended to increase the tactical mobility of the German Army's airborne forces and possibly also its SOF. A tender for ...

Swimmer delivery vehicles

Shallow Water Combat Submersible (SWCS)​

The USN has contracted Teledyne Brown to develop the Shallow Water Combat Submersible (SWCS) as part of a wider effort to develop new underwater transports for ...

EO/IR systems

Stormcaster-DX

The Teledyne FLIR StormCaster-DX is a multi-role, low-SWaP laser target designator (LTD) payload designed to affect the STANAG-compliant terminal guidance of laser-guided munitions.  The StormCaster-DX ...

Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

Thunder TM-1025

The SOF Thunder comprises one variant in a wider family of TM-1025 RIBs currently in service with the Polish armed forces. The SOF Thunder is ...

Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

ZH-753

The Zodiac Hurricane 753 OB SAR is typically used as a shore-based boat operating independently in SAR, counterterrorism and law enforcement missions. The deep-V fibreglass ...

Special operations vehicles

VOS-APP

The Arquus VOS-APP is a 6x6 support vehicle currently under trial with the French SOF. Acting as a replacement for the 1970s-vintage ACMAT VLRA, the VOS-APP is the ...

Self-propelled rocket launchers

Fletcher

Arnold Defense, which has produced more than 1.1 million 2.75in/70mm rocket launchers for airborne applications since 1961, unveiled the Fletcher 2.75in/70mm Weapon System at the September ...

Submachine guns

FN SCAR-SC

FN Herstal unveiled the 5.56mm FN SCAR-SC (Subcompact Carbine), the newest member of the SCAR (SOF Combat Assault Rifle) family originally developed for the US ...

Individual grenade launchers

XRGL40

The XRGL40 is an extended-range 40mm handheld multi-shot weapon able to engage at ranges up to 800m. Fitted with the GR40 multi-velocity programmable sight (see ...

Swimmer delivery vehicles

Black Shadow

The Black Shadow is a jet-powered diver propulsion device designed to covertly insert and extract SOF to and from target areas. The Black Shadow is ...

Counter-UAS systems

Wingman 103

The Wingman 103 is the flagship product of the Wingman series of wearable, intuitive drone detection systems. It is a ruggedised version, designed for the ...

Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

Special Ops 12m

Asis Special Operations RIBs are primarily used to carry SOF into and out of operations where the threats are considered moderate. The Special Operations RIBs ...

Land: mission management systems, Sea: maritime awareness systems

MIOS

Marine Interdiction Operations System (MIOS) is a soldier-worn situational awareness and BFT system developed for secure boarding party and defence applications. It has been designed ...

Assault rifles/carbines/shotguns

FN SCAR-H

The 7.62mm FN SCAR-Heavy (H) was developed to meet a US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) requirement for a SOF Combat Assault Rifle (SCAR). The SCAR-H is in ...

Avionics: Integrated cockpit systems, Avionics: 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 ...

Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles, Special operations vehicles

LRV-20

The LRV-20 is an open-topped 4x4 tactical vehicle developed by Calidus in the UAE. Though little is known regarding its capabilities, it appears to be ...