Digital Battlespace

Riding the Data Wave: How the Military is Harnessing the Power of Data Integration (Studio)

24th August 2023

The future battlefield is extending beyond traditional realms; it is blending our physical world with new, digital realms. Success in the future operating environment will be dependent on leveraging a seamlessly integrated, data-driven, multi-domain environment that can efficiently defend against sophisticated technological threats.

Naval Warfare

Keel laid for USS Tang

17th August 2023

The keel was laid for the 32nd Virginia-class submarine USS Tang on 17 August, a Block V variant of the type and the third boat with this name for the USN.

Naval Warfare

HII's Ingalls Shipbuilding launches latest Arleigh Burke-class destroyer

16th August 2023

Ingalls Shipbuilding has launched the USN's third Flight III Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, Ted Stevens (DDG 128), bringing it one step closer to service entry.

Digital Battlespace

Viasat launches Black ICE software defined radio platform for secure data transmission

2nd August 2023

Viasat has unveiled its Black ICE Software Defined Radio (SDR) family, which is designed to enable secure data transmission with flexible waveform integration and meet high-demand requirements for mission-critical operations.

Submarines nuclear, ballistic missile

Dreadnought Class (Successor Programme)

Programme Background Requirements The Dreadnought-class, prior to being named in October 2016, was known as the Successor programme, which was approved by the government in May ...

Minehunters

Mine Sweeping Hunter II (MSH-II) [South Korea]

Programme Background Requirements Under the Mine Sweeping Hunter II (MSH-II) programme, South Korea is seeking a replacement for the Ganggyeong-class minehunters, which are due to leave service ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

Puma 2 AE (Estonia)

Programme Background The US DoD announced that it had awarded AeroVironment an $8.868 million firm-fixed-price contract to supply an undisclosed number of RQ-20B Puma AE ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

Wing Loong II [Nigeria]

Programme Background First Order On 5 November 2020, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Chief, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, stated that the force was set to ...

Submarines: conventional, attack

KSS-III (Boats 6-9)

Programme Background The new KSS-III Dosan Ahn Chang-Ho-class submarines for the Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN) are a significant advance on the earlier KSS-II and KSS-I ...

Tanks

Arjun Mark-II

Programme Background While original plans envisioned the production of up to 250 Arjun Mk IIs, the programme's many delays have prompted the Indian Army to ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

Wing Loong II (Pakistan)

Programme Background Negotiations On 6 October 2018, the Pakistani Air Force (PAF) announced it would acquire 48 Wing Loong II UAVs in a social media post. ...

Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

PKX-B Batch II (South Korea) (5-22)

Programme Background Contracts Award On 24 November 2022, HJ Heavy Industries was awarded a contract worth KRW212 billion ($160 million) to build four PKX-B Batch-II ...

APCs/IFVs - 8x8

Cloud Leopard II 8x8

Programme Background The Cloud Leopard II will offer greater strategic mobility, as well as enhanced protection and lethality, than the legacy tracked and wheeled vehicles ...

Trainer

T-6C [Thailand]

Programme Background The contract is for 12 Beechcraft T-6C Texan II advanced military training aircraft, ground-based training systems for pilots and maintenance professionals, a mission ...

Minehunters

Kormoran II Class MCM (4-6) [Poland]

Programme Background Timeline As of March 2022, the Kormoran II-class consists of six minehunters for the Polish Navy. However, as of June 2022, only one vessel has been ...

Submarines: conventional, attack

KSS-III (Boats 1-5) (South Korea)

Programme Background Timeline The new KSS-III Dosan Ahn Chang-Ho-class submarines for the Republic of Korea Navy (RoKN) are a significant advance on the earlier KSS-II ...

Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

PKX-B Batch II (South Korea)

Programme Background Contracts Award On 24 November 2022, HJ Heavy Industries was awarded a contract worth KRW212 billion ($160 million) to build four PKX-B Batch-II fast attack ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

Wing Loong II (Morocco)

Programme Background OkDiario Report On 2 October 2022, the Spanish newspaper OkDiario reported, quoting "Spanish military intelligence", that Morocco had acquired an unknown quantity of ...

Tanks

Al-Khalid-II

Programme Background Pakistan operates a vast fleet of Chinese and Ukrainian MBTs primarily aimed at deterring regional rivals such as India. In order to build ...

Surface-to-air missiles

UGM-133 Trident II

The UGM-133 Trident II, or Trident-D5, is a submarine-launched ballistic missile. It is designed to launch nuclear payloads and is a cornerstone of America's deterrence ...

Submarines nuclear, ballistic missile

Vanguard Class

The UK Royal Navy’s Vanguard class of ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) provide the UK with its continuous-at-sea deterrent (CASD) coverage and have done so since 1994 ...

Submarines nuclear, ballistic missile

Ohio Class

The US Navy’s (USN’s) Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines (SSBN’s) – known as the SSBN 726-class – provide the US with its sea-based nuclear deterrent. It ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

Trident TL

The Trident TL is a low-cost, foldable, ground- or air-launched UAS. Designed for commercial and federal agency use, this system uses autonomous navigation for launch, ...

Submarines nuclear, ballistic missile

Columbia Class

The USN’s new Columbia-class SSBN, also known as the SSBN 826-class, is planned to replace the existing Ohio-class boats as the cornerstone of the US ...

Uncrewed aerial systems engines

Trident 140TD2

The Trident 140TD2 is a compression-ignition engine designed for MALE platforms. Based on the Trident 100TD2, it is a lightweight, four-cylinder design that is intended ...

Sea: optronic masts and periscopes

Type 8 Mod 3

The Type 8 Mod 3 is an updated version of the Type 8-series periscopes. The Type 8B/J Mod 3 provides extremely high-frequency low-data-rate communications capability ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing

EX-3M Trident

The EX-3M Trident is an open-architecture, high-speed, developmental fixed-wing UAV.  Manufactured by Exosonic, the UAV commenced flight trials in May 2023 and is intended to serve as a ...

Uncrewed aerial systems engines

Trident 180TD2

The Trident 180TD2 is a compression-ignition engine designed for heavier UAVs up to the 2t class. The design is intended to improve efficiency, while being ...

Infrastructure - shelters/accommodation

EFASS 20.4m Hangar

The 20.4m hangar was the first of the Expeditionary Forces Aircraft Shelter System (EFASS) range of soft-walled temporary buildings to be designed to meet the ...

Uncrewed aerial systems engines

Trident 100TD2

The Trident 100TD2 is a compression-ignition engine that is capable of operating on various types of heavy fuel. It is claimed to offer up to ...

Submarines nuclear, ballistic missile

Dreadnought Class

The UK is building four new Dreadnought-class SSBNs for the Royal Navy that will take over the nuclear deterrent role from the existing four Vanguard-class submarines. ...

Major networking projects

DNW

The Directional NetWork (DNW) system provides 100Mb/s+ mesh networking for US military users. It is designed to sustain network connectivity without SATCOM by using an ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

S55 Ares

The S55 Ares, or Super Kukulkan, is a MALE fixed-wing UAV designed by Hydra Technologies.  Hydra’s range of UAVs is predominantly used for ISR operations ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - tactical

S50 Kukulkan

The Hydra Technologies S50 Kukulkan, or Kukulkán, is a medium-range ISR UAV for civil, law enforcement and military use. The UAV is a direct evolution of the S45 ...