Archive: News & Articles

A rapidly-changing strategic landscape demands additional flexibility from global and regional actors. President Biden’s mantra in his first days in the White House – “America is back” – indicated the renewed involvement of the USA in world affairs. It also meant that the US modus operandi as the most advanced actor in the great power […]

Over the past two years of war in Ukraine, a fairly broad consensus has emerged that small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), along with loitering munitions and low-cost alternatives such as first-person view (FPV) drones have drastically increased the risks to armoured vehicles on the battlefield. Given their low costs and high numbers, there is general […]

When the US Army terminated its Future Attack and Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) effort in early 2024, beyond cancelling an individual programme, the decision might also have indicated that the sun may have set on the armed reconnaissance helicopter as a viable type for the 21st century battlefield. On 8 February 2024 the US Army announced […]

Western nations continue to develop ground-launched hypersonic weapon systems (HWS). However, despite some incremental success, testing and fielding have progressed more slowly than anticipated. By definition, hypersonic weapons travel at speeds greater than Mach 5 (1,715 m/s). While there are many weapons which meet this definition, such as ballistic missiles, the ‘hypersonic’ label is primarily […]

The US Army continues to (mostly) make progress with its core set of priority modernisation programmes, although it has made some adjustments to accommodate both technological challenges and budgetary constraints. In 2017, the Army identified 31 modernisation efforts as top priority programmes essential for military transformation. Subsequently another four development and acquisition programmes were added […]

The US Army is developing a modular robotic combat vehicle that is comparatively light and manoeuvrable, while still suitable for a variety of missions. The Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) Campaign Plan was established in January 2019 to develop a family of three armed uncrewed ground vehicles (UGVs) of varying size and with distinct capability and […]

In September 2024, ESD got the chance to conduct an interview with Bell Textron Inc. personnel. The interview was conducted by Ian Frain. ESD: Congratulations on recent achievements in both the military (Milestone B for the V-280 Valor/FLRAA,) and parapublic marketplace (Bell 505 and Bell 407Gxi to law enforcement agencies) – how would you sum […]

Concealment is critical to survivability, but hiding effectively on the battlefield, whether troops or vehicles, day or night, is no longer as clear-cut as it once was. Hiding from the enemy and staying out of sight with the help of good camouflage is a basic requirement for survival in war. Using natural, or local cover […]

In 2023, Project EVEREST demonstrated how UK land forces could improve their sharing of data between disparate systems. Plans are now underway for a new, bigger EVEREST experiment that aims to deepen resilient connectivity and compress the decision-action loop. L3Harris Technologies conducted its first EVEREST experiment in 2023, a large demonstration of capability available today […]

Security of supply and strategic stockpiling are topping today’s agenda in civilian and military settings. Less debated but no less important, is the strategic pre-positioning of war reserve materiel near the points of need. According to DoDD 3110.07, Prepositioned War Reserve Materiel (PWRM) is “war reserve materiel and equipment strategically located to facilitate a timely […]

The concept of arming individual soldiers with grenades to increase their firepower is not new.; what we recognise today as the predecessor of the modern grenade emerged centuries ago as gunpowder, later becoming a major factor on the battlefield. For some, the concept of the grenade actually predates the gunpowder era; in Byzantium an incendiary […]

Not only are wheeled and tracked large-calibre howitzers some of the most effective systems now being used by Ukrainian artillery in their defence against Russia, but they also appear to be the favoured route taken by western procurement initiatives and programmes. As is well known, numerous NATO and Allies have provided Ukraine with a wide […]

Reporting on chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear defence issues often confronts the issues of neglect. Barring the occasional crisis that promotes a period of spending and concern, CBRN defence often lags behind in priorities. If there is a country within Europe that breaks this paradigm and consisting carries its weight in terms of CBRN defence, […]

As the War in Ukraine has continued, Ukraine has undergone a massive shift towards using Western air defence systems, and is further re-shaping its aviation with the delivery of F-16s. This article examines the challenges faced by Ukraine’s air defence units, and the expectations for the F-16. Two and a half years into the full-scale […]

More than two and a half years into the Russo-Ukrainian War, both nations have endured significant human losses while making minimal territorial gains. The conflict has evolved considerably, though neither Russia nor Ukraine are fighting as they did at the war’s outset in 2022. A noticeable shift toward innovative warfare and technology is evident. Ukraine […]

The problems and prospects for CBRN over the next decade, as seen by seasoned expert Dan Kaszeta. Looking to the future, the author examines why separate protective suits might vanish, why every vehicle could become a CBRN sensor, and how treating these threats as an operational condition could radically reshape thinking and attitudes on CBRN […]

In July 2024, Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV) hosted a recovery capability focused event at the company’s main production facility in Vienna, Austria. While primarily for users and potential users of RMMV’s recovery solutions, the final session of the event was set aside for a small group of invited military-specific journalists. Here, the company demonstrated […]

Nearly 30 years after the UK first became involved with the Boxer, it is now on the cusp of entering service with the British Army. With more orders in the pipeline, the Boxer programme will be critical to the future of the army and the UK’s armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) industry. By and large, the […]

As of early August 2024, with the British Army reporting the completion of its first firing-on-the-move trial on Ajax, the overall outlook for the British Army’s long-troubled programme appears more optimistic. As a high-profile programme, Ajax has served as a posterchild for the MoD’s procurement woes over the last few years. However, Ajax is far […]

Like other major armed forces, the British Army is systematically seeking to incorporate advanced autonomous unmanned platforms into its formations. Future Soldier The British Army operates numerous unmanned systems. Major applications include explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), as well as aspects of intelligence, surveillance, targeting and reconnaissance (ISTAR). The extensive current inventory includes the man-portable Dragon […]

The British Army intends to embark on a number of procurement programmes in the mobility sector, which include the Light Tactical Mobility Platform (LTMP) Light and the LTMP Medium. Subsumed into these efforts is the former General Support Utility Programme (GSUP), which was aimed at finding a replacement for the Land Rover fleet and similar […]