Archive: News & Articles

Unlike the armoured vehicles of the past that featured weapon-centric crew-operated platforms focused on mobility, protection, and firepower, modern combat vehicles have become data-centric systems of systems, loaded with sophisticated electronics comprising of sensors, vehicle, and weapon control systems, integrated into a cohesive combat system designed to survive, thrive in and dominate the battlespace by […]

The US Army Futures Command (AFC) celebrates its fifth anniversary in August 2023. The Pentagon created this dedicated command in the hope of avoiding the kinds of mistakes that had plagued numerous development and procurement programmes in recent decades and delayed much-needed replacement of legacy systems. Many observers see 2023 as a pivotal year for […]

When the COVID-19 pandemic gripped the globe, the military in many countries supported the civilian authorities in many roles, from assisting medical professionals, to enforcing the lockdown, and in general law and order support roles. In providing support to doctors, nurses, and paramedics, the military also transported patients both on the ground and in the […]

The ongoing war in Ukraine has provided a glimpse into military operations in the modern age of strategic competition, illustrating a shift away from two decades focused on counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency towards more conventional peer conflict. The war has also highlighted the importance of technology on the modern battlefield with dismounted infantry and special forces […]

The sudden withdrawal of NATO from Afghanistan in 2021 and Russia’s latest invasion of Ukraine in February this year have thrown the international special operations forces (SOF) community into a state of flux as they prioritise future responsibilities. After two decades of counter-terrorism (CT) and counter-insurgency (COIN) campaigns focused primarily on south-central Asia and the […]

There used to be very little attention paid to energy security in Europe, and it was hardly thought of as a critical problem. Instead, the conversation was dominated by themes such as climate change, or the climate crisis. To this you could add decarbonisation, net-zero, renewables, green new deal, energy transition or ‘Energiewende’ as it […]

It is almost a year since Russia began what it called its ‘Special Military Operation,’ in reality its invasion of Ukraine. What was supposed to be a campaign that was to last a matter of days, that was supposed to see the decapitation of the political and military leadership in Kyiv, leading to the rapid […]

As the Indian Air Force (IAF) enters its 91st year, an apparent ‘code-red’ seems to have been sounded by its top leadership over the declining fighter squadron strength, raising the questions around how many combat jets India has available and how many it needs to fight a war. Su-30MKI To deal with this historic drop […]

Giving indigenisation a push towards its ‘Self-Reliant India’ initiative, the foundation stone of the first project by an Indian private defence manufacturer, was recently laid in Vadodara, Gujarat. Under this deal Tata Advanced Systems Limited and Airbus Defence and Space Spain, will collaborate to build 40 C-295 military transport planes, in a joint venture deal […]

The US Air Force (USAF) is developing the capability to launch cruise missiles and other air-to-ground weapons from cargo aircraft. Experiments deploying palletized munitions are currently being conducted as part of the ‘Rapid Dragon’ programme. The new operational concept is also being recommended to allies as a rapid force multiplier. The term ‘Rapid Dragon’ is […]

In the second week of April 2022, six of the latest X’ian Aircraft Industrial Corporation Y-20A transport aircraft of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) appeared at Nikola Tesla International Airport in Belgrade, much to the surprise of many Western observers. The appearance of the six Y-20A transport aircraft, apparently delivering an unspecified cargo, […]

Hexonia GmbH, a military clothing and ballistic protection specialist based in Nettetal, Germany, but recently acquired by Norway’s NFM Group, aims to triple its sales figures in the current year compared to the previous year, the company has stated. Orders for 2023, as well as further volumes for 2024 and 2025, were already awarded to […]

The combination of climate change and increased tensions with Russia is increasing NATO nations’ focus on security interests and military operations in the Arctic and other cold-weather zones. A significant number of NATO members already operate vehicles optimised for these zones. Several are currently upgrading or replacing their cold-weather fleets. Several categories of vehicle are […]

MIL-STD cables and connectors are ubiquitous on the battlefield in their use for the widest range of applications on land, at sea or in the air. They ensure all kinds of military equipment operates reliably at all times and in the harshest of environments. From the connectors and cables on radios and communications equipment, to […]

The gathering pace of experimentation with electric propulsion was a key takeaway at this year’s Defence IQ International Armoured Vehicles conference (IAV23), held at Twickenham in London from 23-26 January 2023, with a number of UK initiatives reported to be making progress. IAV attendees were told that the three platforms being trialled with various hybrid […]

The battlefield has become increasingly complex, hybrid and power hungry, and armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) have followed suit. Their growing wealth of new sensors and advanced weapon systems are placing higher operational demands for reliable, readily-available electrical energy supplies on those vehicle platforms than ever. Available power must be delivered to the right system at […]

Superficially, armoured vehicles used to be a less complicated proposition, it was not that long ago that a tank would have had a voice-only radio, there would have been an intercom system for crew communication, the main gun would have been stabilised, with the sight being a relatively simplistic optic. Realistically a tank of this […]

Carl Benz ran his first gasoline-driven engine at the end of 1879. Development continued and by 1885 Benz had developed a two-seat gasoline powered automobile. Then in July 1886, the three-wheeled Benz Patent Motor Car, model no. 1 made its public debut and the automotive age had begun. Other powered mobility solutions followed, but at […]

It is hard not to be cynical when looking at British defence programmes, or to be more precise the management of those programmes. Over the years British defence procurement has been characterised by short term thinking and ineffective financial management. This has led to cost overruns and seemingly an inability to deliver the end-user a […]

On 8 December 2022, the Japanese Ministry of Defense (MoD) selected Finnish company Patria’s AMV as the replacement for Self-Defence Force’s (JGSDF) Type 96 8×8 armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs). However, the path which had led to this point was not the most straightforward. The Type 96 successor programme was initially named the ‘Improved Wheeled Armoured […]

If you were looking to acquire a vehicle at the top of the wheeled armoured vehicle spectrum your attention would immediately be drawn to the 8×8 category of vehicles. These have the performance, load carrying capability, a respectable level of protection and in many cases the ability to provide the basis for a complete family […]