Archive: News & Articles

The modern designated marksman rifle (DMR) came about in response to conditions encountered in the post-2000 asymmetric conflicts, in particular in Afghanistan. Put simply, the requirement arose to complement the existing inventory of infantry weapons, specifically for a weapon that could offer increased range and significantly increased stopping power. Along with increasing adoption, new DMR […]

Body armour and related carry systems must be capable of withstanding any ballistic danger, constructed of the appropriate materials, and tested to the highest standards. When it comes to facing real-world, operational threats such as the Russian-made Dragunov semi-automatic sniper rifle on the battlefields of Ukraine, wearing effective body armour is essential for survival. While […]

The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) is NATO’s lead organisation for multinational acquisition, support, and sustainment. We strive to obtain the best capabilities across all military domains at the best value – for NATO and Allied Nations – generating economies of scale while leveraging emerging and advanced technology. The Agency also provides equipment and […]

The crucible of conflict in Ukraine is teaching many things to those willing to look, listen and learn. Almost at the pinnacle of the hierarchy of lessons learned lie multiple aspects of drone warfare – fast becoming a warfare domain in its own right. Sensors, propulsion, data processing and dissemination, effectors and payloads – all […]

With weapon lethality at an all-time high, and many confirmed losses of modern land vehicle platforms across multiple battlefields, it is worth examining the extent to which current protection systems are up to facing the challenges of the modern battlefield. In order to analyse the efficacy of modern armour on current battlefields, an analytical framework […]

Chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats are potential sources of disaster in modern life. Enemies might be able to use them for some sort of advantage, terrorists could use them for havoc, and accidents could cause disruption, property loss, and death. The same could be said of the broad field of artificial intelligence and […]

As the green transition begins, militaries are left weighing the benefits of a transition from internal combustion engines (ICEs) to hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and even battery electric vehicles (BEVs). The defence industry has already begun to promote some of these technologies and begun to showcase what is currently possible. However, the big question remains […]

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is faced with an extremely challenging strategic environment in which previous strategic certainties no longer apply. For years, the economic and defence links between Saudi Arabia and the US were such that they constituted an implicit guarantee of support from Washington in the event of the Kingdom facing a […]

Saudi Arabia is systematically investing in the development of its own defence industry and R&D capabilities. A remarkable 50% of defence spending is expected to be allocated domestically by 2030. This is an ambitious plan, and it remains to be seen whether the authorities in Riyadh will achieve their goal. For decades, Saudi Arabia lacked […]

Uncrewed capabilities have often been touted as ‘game changers’, at strategic and operational levels. The current crises and conflict across the Middle East are demonstrating how one type of uncrewed system – uncrewed air vehicles (UAVs) – can have such impact. Western militaries have for some time been working on delivering new capability and operational […]

Any potential Ukrainian progress in pushing back the country’s Russian invaders is already being threatened by political machinations in Washington, but if Donald Trump were to be re-elected president in November 2024, Kyiv’s position could be fatally compromised. As 2023 drew to a close, the administration of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky must have looked with […]

A new software tool could help locate individuals suspected of war crimes in Ukraine via posts that they may make to the Telegram social media application. You may not be familiar with Telegram. Neither is your correspondent who equates the name with a form of retro telecommunications which largely fell into disuse in the 1990s. […]

Two exogenous events are currently reshaping the South Caucasus: the War in Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. The invasion of Ukraine forced Russia to re-prioritise the significance of the region, which evolved from the backwater of its ‘near abroad’ neo-colonial space to the main logistical hub of its war economy. Russia currently works […]

Throughout its seven-decade history, NATO has demonstrated adaptability and resilience in overcoming diverse challenges as an international entity due to the shared values among its member states. Beyond its initial military alliance role, NATO now prioritises multilateral cooperation and adopts a multifaceted approach to tackle complex contemporary challenges. But today’s fast-changing geopolitical landscape requires the […]

The ‘loi de programmation militaire’ (LPM) is a French institution. This document is discussed at length and represents the Government’s commitment to providing the military with sufficient resources for the future. LPM 24–30 will allow the French military to significantly increase its budget, reaching EUR 413.3 billion over the next seven years. Despite this considerable […]

For several decades, much of the emphasis within CBRN detection has been most about chemical warfare detection, with occasional blips in biological detection. Radiation detection often gets treated at best as a settled issue and solved problem. After all, we have been able to detect, measure, and identify radiation rather a lot easier than we […]

Global military deployments often require repair of heavy combat vehicles close to deployment locations, far away from fixed infrastructure and peacetime-equipped workshops. Mobile test systems can provide support in assessing damage and confirming the success of repairs carried out in the field. Modern combat vehicle engines are characterised by high power density, and use electronic […]

Texelis has recently unveiled its ‘Celeris’ 4×4 mobility system concept. Effectively this is a range of kit-based chassis and driveline packages being offered to vehicle manufacturers, in order to simplify the development of new 4×4 platforms. In addition to the chassis and driveline, the Celeris offer also includes Texelis’ assistance with integration of hulls and […]

The efficient medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) of wounded soldiers from the battlefield follows a planned pathway involving trained personnel using the latest available equipment and medical procedures. Battlefield wounds often present medical professionals with the most complex injuries encountered. A soldier may be wounded in the remotest of locations, making it all the more urgent for […]

On the modern battlefield, extra protection for armoured vehicles is increasingly in demand with high-performance organic armour and active protection systems comprising two vital elements. Add-on armour is a vital third element of a comprehensive protection package for armoured fighting vehicles (AFV) and armoured support vehicles. Add-on armour has the advantage of being modular, allowing […]

The wheeled armoured vehicle sector provides potential customers with a wealth of choices for virtually all conceivable requirements. The vehicle range includes variants in 4×4, 6×6 and 8×8 configuration. Selecting the appropriate vehicle solution is dictated by the mission(s) that are to be carried out, the operational environment, and the weight category of the vehicle; […]