• Defence Notes

  How US Special Operations Forces are using AI to transform modern warfare

  29th May 2026

  USSOCOM is expanding the use of artificial intelligence, autonomous systems and human-machine teaming to improve decision-making, survivability and operational reach in contested environments.

• Land Warfare

  US Marine Corps to expand on-the-move power capabilities with MRZR Alpha 5kW

  28th May 2026

  The MRZR Alpha 5kW has been designed to charge multiple battlefield systems, including active defence systems, sensor arrays, onboard electronics, UAS and CUAS equipment, and other C5ISR capabilities. The platform can also power external loads such as a forward-operating tactical grid.

• Naval Warfare

  Kraken’s Royal Navy USV contract signals next step in crewed-uncrewed integration

  12th March 2026

  The UK Royal Navy’s rapid procurement of uncrewed platforms aligns with the force’s strategic shift towards a fleet better equipped to handle modern threats.

• Air Warfare

  US Marine Corps unveils first standardised drone platform for training and general use

  23rd July 2026

  The USMC is moving to make the Neros Archer FPV its primary drone while it rapidly expands attack-drone capabilities across the Fleet Marine Force.

• Air Warfare

  Fuselage of the first US Army MV-75 Cheyenne tiltrotor “is nearing completion”

  18th June 2026

  Bell is advancing construction of the US Army’s next-generation MV-75 Cheyenne tiltrotor as FLRAA programme approaches testing, production and future battlefield deployment.

• Land Warfare

  Lockheed Martin demonstrates Spike and is selected for next stage of US Army requirement

  28th August 2025

  The Spike non-line-of-sight (NLOS) missile is used by several countries as an air-launched weapon but the recent trials were ground-launched from a vehicle and involved three shots.

• Air Warfare

  USSOCOM outlines acquisition priorities for FY2026

  23rd April 2025

  The service is seeking all-domain autonomous and counter-robotic solutions as well as deep sensing and assured access technologies.

• Defence Notes

  US military foresees growing use of 3D printing

  13th November 2025

  Advanced manufacturing has evolved to meet military requirements and now supports multiple US critical assets, including Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, F-18, F-22, F-35, Bradley, HMMWV and Patriot.

• Special Operations

  Why artificial intelligence has secured its place in special forces’ operations

  31st May 2025

  The diverse use cases of Artificial Intelligence (AI) have been turning it into a critical tool for Special Operations Forces (SOF).

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  SOF Week 2025: Teledyne FLIR white paper provides guidance on reusable loitering munitions

  6th May 2025

  Teledyne FLIR is highlighting the emerging requirements for 'recoverable and re-usable' loitering munitions across the contemporary operating environment during this week’s SOF Week conference in Tampa, Florida.

• Land Warfare

  Polaris to unveil new MRZR Alpha base vehicle at Modern Day Marine

  29th April 2025

  The new platform was designed to provide 1KW of exportable power as standard and has been developed in partnership with the US Marine Corps (USMC).

• Land Warfare

  US services test wearable tech to improve soldier’s performance

  25th November 2024

  Developed by the USC Institute for Creative Technologies, the Lightning Platform is an app to assess warfighters’ physiology, metabolism and mental and cognitive status.

• Land Warfare

  AUSA 2024: Teledyne FLIR shares milestones and plans while showing SkyPad UAS box

  14th October 2024

  Teledyne FLIR Cerberus XL CUAS is deployed in Ukraine while its Rogue One recoverable loitering munition is racing through development.

• Digital Battlespace

  Viasat reveals new lightweight comms gateway in collaboration with USSOCOM

  1st August 2024

  The Secure Wireless Hub (SWH) is a lightweight, wearable communications system.

• Training

  Grenade programme highlights demand for training device

  4th June 2024

  Nammo’s development of a training grenade for its Scalable Offensive Hand Grenade (SOHG) highlighted the challenges and innovations in creating realistic, reusable training tools to ensure effective soldier preparedness.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Loitering munitions

  Echelon 2: Ground Organic Precision Strike Systems (GOPSS) [USSOCOM]

  Programme Background Requirements The U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has made loitering capabilities a priority in its efforts to support counter-violent extremist organization (C-VEO) operations and ...

• Loitering munitions

  Switchblade 600 [USSOCOM]

  Programme Background Contract One AeroVironment confirmed in an April 2021 statement that it had been awarded a $26 million contract from the United States Special Operations ...

• Loitering munitions

  Echelon 0: Ground Organic Precision Strike Systems (GOPSS) [USSOCOM]

  Programme Background Requirements The U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has made loitering capabilities a priority in its efforts to support counter-violent extremist organization (C-VEO) operations ...

• Loitering munitions

  Echelon 1: Ground Organic Precision Strike Systems (GOPSS) [USSOCOM]

  Programme Background Requirements The US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has made loitering capabilities a priority in its efforts to support counter-violent extremist organization (C-VEO) operations ...

• Loitering munitions

  Maritime Launched Effects (MLE) [US]

  Background Origin The loitering munition effort dates back to at least 2018 and was previously called Maritime Precision Engagement (MPE). The US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) ...

• ISR/special mission

  Armed Overwatch/Targeting [USA]

  Background Requirement The Armed Overwatch programme was revealed in March 2020, during a US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) industry briefing. In June 2021, the USSOCOM awarded a $19.3 ...

• Tiltrotors

  V-22 Osprey (Navy and Marine Corps) [USA]

  Programme Background Requirement According to USN FY2023 Budget Estimate documentation, the V-22 programme provides an aircraft to meet the amphibious and vertical assault needs of ...

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

  Multidomian Micro Drones [USSOCOM]

  Background Special Notice On 14 November 2024, a Special Notice was released that informed the industry that the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) was looking for ...

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

  FPV Drones [USSOCOM]

  Background Single-Source Notice In March 2025, the US Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT) released a single-source contract to acquire an unspecified quantity of first-person view (FPV) drones ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  MEUAS IV (US)

  Programme Background MEUAS History The first iteration of the MEUAS programme began in the early 2000s when the ScanEagle was acquired through the programme and ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  ALTIUS (US)

  Programme Background Testing The US Army has tested the platform since March 2020. It was launched from a US Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter that ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  eLRV [USA]

  Background Purpose The US Army unveiled a new concept for a more deployable IBCT structure at AUSA in October 2014. Built around three main types of ...

• Military - USVs

  MUSV [USN]

  Programme Background Requirements In March 2026, the US announced it would be replacing its Modular Attack Surface Craft (MASC) programme with a Medium Uncrewed Surface ...

• Military helicopters - multirole

  Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) (MV-75 Cheyenne II) [USA]

  Programme Background US Army's Future Vertical Lift Programme The FLRAA is one of three strands of a broader army programme. The others are the Future ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• 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 ...

• Assault rifles/carbines/shotguns

  FN SCAR-L

  The 5.56mm FN SCAR-Light (L) was developed in parallel with the 7.62mm FN SCAR-H to meet a US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) requirement for a ...

• Land: battle management systems

  C4InSight

  C4InSight is an integrated C4ISR management system designed to enable commanders and platform operators to control and interface with sensors, communications equipment, mission command applications, ...

• Subsystems: software

  Shapes and Colors

  Shapes and Colors, was created to fill a requirement by US Specials Operations Command (USSOCOM) to help better facilitate its special tactics training. The collaborative ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  MRZR Alpha

  The MRZR Alpha is an improved variant of the Polaris MRZR series developed to meet a US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) requirement for a follow-on Light Tactical ...

• Maritime patrol

  Dash 8-300

  The Bombardier Dash 8-300 MPA is based on the Q300 regional turboprop aircraft. The Q200 model, with a shorter fuselage, is also used in the ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  MRZR 4

  The MRZR 4 is derived from the Polaris RZR commercial 4x4 all-terrain vehicle with modifications to make it suitable for military use.  Over 1,500 MRZR ...

• Swimmer delivery vehicles

  DPD

  The Diver Propulsion Device (DPD) was designed to satisfy US Special Operations Command requirements in 2000 for a swimmer delivery vehicle capable of covertly inserting and ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  MRZR D2

  Originally introduced in 2013, the MRZR family of vehicles is in service with the US and several other militaries across the world.  On 20 February ...

• Weapon sights for day use

  5-25x56 PM II Digital

  The PM II Digital line of scopes have a modified scope head and can be used with or without compatible devices. The information from compatible ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  MRZR 2

  The MRZR 2 light ATV is derived from the Polaris RZR commercial 4x4 all-terrain vehicle with modifications for military use.  The platform entered service with ...

• Tiltrotors, Military UAS - fixed-wing

  X-76

  The X-76 is an operational crewed aircraft designed to combine the flexibility of a helicopter with the speed of a fixed-wing aircraft.  Bell Textron is ...

• Crew-served grenade launchers

  Striker 40/MK47

  General Dynamics is systems integrator for the Striker 40 (MK47 AGL in US service). The complete system comprises the weapon, AN/PWG-1 Lightweight Video Sight and ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Flyer 72/GMV 1.1

  The Flyer 72 Advanced Light Strike Vehicle (ALSV) was developed by General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (GD-OTS), in partnership with Flyer Defense, to meet ...

• Major networking projects

  MADSS

  The Mission Assurance Decision Support Service (MADSS) will provide combatant commanders with a joint globally available common operating picture of network status supporting operations during ...