Naval Warfare

France orders seven offshore patrol vessels

24th November 2023

The first offshore patrol vessel (OPV) is scheduled for delivery in 2026 and 10 OPVs are expected to be in service by 2035. They are intended to replace the high seas patrol vessels based in Brest and Toulon, as well as the Cherbourg public service patrol boats.

Digital Battlespace

NATO adopts high-data-rate waveform for tactical communications

23rd November 2023

NATO member countries can now access to the ESSOR HDR Base Waveform which can offer secure and high-speed tactical communications.

Training

German airmobile forces to get new NH90 helicopter crew trainer

22nd November 2023

Reiser Simulation and Training has secured a deal to develop and deliver specialised NH90 helicopter rear-cabin trainer for the German airmobile forces.

Training

EU counter-IED exercise begins with 12 countries and 1,000 personnel

7th November 2023

Bison Counter 23 will include observers from Sweden, Latvia, Romania and the US, and has followed on from similar exercises in 2013, held in the Netherlands, 2016 (Sweden) and 2021 (Italy).

Air Warfare

French Navy tests VSR700 naval UAS demonstrator on multi-mission frigate

2nd November 2023

The latest Naval Aerial Drone System trials aimed to showcase the UAS performance capabilities in surveillance and intelligence missions.

Air Warfare

NATO nears end of multi-tanker air-to-air refuelling exercise in Canary Islands

26th October 2023

The 9th European Air Refuelling Training began on October 16 from Gando Air Base in Gran Canaria, Spain, and has involved air tankers from France, Italy and Spain.

Naval Warfare

European procurement agency signs deal to progress the first phase of the European Patrol Corvette project

25th October 2023

The Modular and Multirole Patrol Corvette (MMPC) contract aims to provide the initial design of a next generation class of naval vessel, the European Patrol Corvette (EPC).

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

Bayraktar TB2 (Mali)

Programme Background On 22 December 2022, Joseph Dempsey, a research associate at IISS, tweeted photographs showing a Baytraktar TB2 adorned with the Malian flag being ...

APCs/IFVs - 4x4, Mine-protected vehicles

Surplus Maxxpro (Bangladesh - First Batch)

Programme Background The Bangladesh Army requires MRAPs to provide protected mobility to its troops deployed on UN peacekeeping missions in Mali and the Central African ...

Military helicopters - multirole

Mi-171Sh

While the Burkinabe Armed Forces declined to discuss the deal when contacted by Shephard, a Burkinabe military source did acknowledge that the aircraft were being ...

Special operations vehicles

Fardier SOV

Programme Background The French Army's airborne units previously operated 280 Lohr FL500 Fardier utility vehicles to carry heavy equipment. Those vehicles increased the tactical mobility ...

APCs/IFVs - 4x4, Mine-protected vehicles

Surplus Maxxpro (Bangladesh - Second Batch)

Programme Background The Bangladesh Army requires MRAPs to provide protected mobility to its troops deployed on UN peacekeeping missions in Mali and the Central African ...

APCs/IFVs - 4x4, Mine-protected vehicles

UN Peacekeeping Vehicles (Bangladesh)

Programme Background The Bangladesh Army requires 4x4 armoured vehicles to provide protected mobility to its troops deployed on UN peacekeeping missions in Mali and the ...

APCs/IFVs - 6x6, APCs/IFVs - 8x8

Wheeled Armoured Vehicles (Sri Lanka)

Programme Background Requirement The Sri Lankan army operates armoured vehicles from several countries, with Russia and China being its biggest suppliers. Its wheeled APC inventory ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

MQ-9 Reaper [France]

Programme Background Total Procurement In June 2013, Northrop Grumman announced that France had requested the purchase of 16 Reapers plus associated systems from the US ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

MQ-9 Reaper (Replacement Units) [France]

Programme Background French Reaper Procurement In June 2013, it was announced that France had requested 16 Reapers plus associated systems from the US Government, which ...

Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

Parrot Anafi (Singapore)

Programme Background On 7 February 2022, the Singapore Army posted photographs on Facebook that showed the Anafi UAV used as training devices in a five-day ...

Minehunters

Mine Warfare Vessels [France]

Programme Background Requirements France’s Mine Warfare Vessels programme is aimed at replacing the ageing Eridan-class minehunters. The programme will follow the Future Naval Mine Action System ...

Military helicopters - multirole

EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) - (Greece)

Programme Background EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) was announced in early 2022 and the project contract was awarded ...

Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

French Operational Pocket Drone / DrOP (France)

Programme Background French UAV Procurment / DrOP Under its 2019-2025 Military Programming Law (LPM), France aims to introduce 1,200 new UAVs into service with the ...

Military helicopters - multirole

EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) - (Italy)

Programme Background EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) EU Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT) was announced in early 2022 and the project contract was awarded ...

Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles

Supacat HMT 400 & 600 (UK - Contracted)

Programme Background Programme Requirements The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) stated in a Contract Notice that it required at least 240 new HMT platforms to mitigate ...

Air: mission management systems

FINDSAT - BFT System

Using geo-satellite positioning, Nexter’s BFT system (FINDSAT) is capable of identifying and locating friendly personnel who are not equipped with networked information or radio systems. ...

Military UGVs

THeMIS

Milrem's Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System (THeMIS) is a modular, hybrid UGV. The modular design and open architecture of the vehicle allow it to be ...

Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - MALE

Heron Mk 1

The Heron, now called the Heron Mk I, is a MALE UAS manufactured by Isreal Aerospace Industries' (IAI) Malat Division. Designed for various missions, including ISTAR and artillery fire ...

Military helicopters - multirole

Mi-8/Mi-17

The Mil Mi-8 (NATO reporting name Hip) is a twin-engine, multirole, medium helicopter developed from 1960 to meet Soviet military requirements. More than 18,000 examples of the ...

Fighter - multirole

Rafale

The Rafale is a delta-wing agile aircraft with forward canards, which allow for short landing and slower speeds, powered by two Snecma M88 engines. The ...

Military UGVs

Probot

The 4x4 Professional Robot (Probot) is suitable for various applications, both indoor and outdoor, and is designed to carry a payload of up to 700kg. ...

Air: Helmet-mounted displays

TopOwl

The TopOwl binocular helmet-mounted sight and display has been chosen by 16 countries for their army, navy and/or air force attack and transport helicopters. It ...

EO/IR systems

AREOS

AREOS (Airborne Recce Observation System) is a standoff reconnaissance system designed for tactical and strategic missions. The pod integrates digital technology in its sensor and ...

Frigates

La Fayette/Kang Ding Class

The La Fayette-class frigates have a stealthy design and are in service with France, Singapore and Taiwan with some variance between the ships on length ...

Air-to-surface missiles

HOT 3

Designed to destroy reactive armour, the HOT (Haut subsonique Optiquement Téléguidé Tiré d'un Tube, or High Subsonic, Optical, Remote-Guided, Tube-Launched) family has demonstrated its multipurpose capability. Tens ...

Trainer

TB 30 Epsilon

The Socata TB 30 Epsilon is a light truboprop trainer aircraft. The first aircraft flew in 1979 and entered service in 1983. It is in ...

Land: Radio and SATCOM

MSR1000I

The MSR1000I is a very-short-range Monopulse Secondary Radar which acts as an IFF interrogator. Equipped with the Mode 5 standard, it is suitable for man-portable and ...

Air: helicopter flight simulators

Tiger Aircrew Training

Thales provides Tiger aircrew training solutions for the armed forces in Australia, France and Germany. Thales is currently upgrading the systems under the Tiger aircrew training ...

Air-to-surface missiles, Surface-to-air missiles

Storm Shadow/SCALP/SCALP Naval

The Storm Shadow is an air-launched cruise missile developed by France, Italy and the UK. It is known as the Storm Shadow in the UK ...

Mine-protected vehicles

Puma M36 Mk 5

OTT developed the Puma M36 Mk 5 to meet the needs of African customers for a lower-cost vehicle that offers a greater payload than its ...