Archive: News & Articles

The Turkish private company Nurol Makina is developing two new variants of its NMS 4×4 protected mobility vehicle, Emre Akin, Nurol’s head of strategic planning told ESD in an interview on 27 September 2022. The NMS builds on the success of the company’s Ejder Yalcin, over 1,000 of which have been sold to 10 different […]

As Canada undertakes modernisation of its armed forces, the country’s offset requirements remain somewhat tricky to navigate. Canada is currently engaged in what could be described as a once in generation defence modernisation programme. For the first time in many years, the Canadian Forces are moving forwards on a range of significant defence procurement programmes, […]

Since the end of the Suharto ‘New Order’ regime in 1998, Indonesia has gradually transitioned to democratic governance, made significant improvements to its economy and progress in improving the life of its people. Inevitably there is a long way to go, Indonesia is evolving rapidly, but faces significant challenges that will test its governing elite […]

The ties and activity within the Turkey-Israel-Azerbaijan triad are motivated by mutual national and strategic interests and/or by coinciding political reasoning. The broader Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean constitute a complex geopolitical area saturated by a diversity of actors. Even though the preservation of fragile balance between them can become problematic, these states are […]

The war in Ukraine and the large-scale Russian missile attacks on the country’s civilian infrastructure impressively demonstrate the importance of effective air defence. For this to function, however, a sufficient number of interceptor missiles is necessary in order not to maintain defensive capability through a long strike campaign and also avoid defences becoming saturated. Users […]

Military medicine often has a steep learning curve when conflicts start. People taken from civilian life needing to deal with medical problems and traumas and military medics used to peacetime may have not seen some natures of injuries in years. Likewise, some types of injuries that appear in terrorist incidents do not occur often in […]

Australia is in the midst of an extensive programme aimed at procuring the next generation of small arms for its land forces. Thus far, several new weapons at the lighter end have already been selected, but many choices remain at the heavier end of the spectrum. LAND 159, otherwise known as the ‘Lethality System Project’, […]

More than eight months into the Russia-Ukraine war, Europe is sailing on full speed towards a dangerous iceberg, that is now only showing its peak: the increasing concerns regarding energy supplies. A deeper dive into European affairs would reflect a challenging crisis encompassing different dimensions that are as complex as they are interrelated. While some of […]

The fortunes of Canada’s defence industry have fluctuated over the years. At one stage this industry was capable of designing and building advanced combat aircraft and their engines. It built tanks and self-propelled guns, over 800,000 military trucks and other support vehicles between 1940 and 1945. It has built: air defence systems transport aircraft helicopters […]

Even before the outbreak of the current war in Ukraine, most Eastern European states had plans to acquire new armoured vehicles. Now, in a response to that war, some of them have already intensified their efforts. More purchases should be expected in the near future. The war in Ukraine came as a shock to many […]

From guns and ammunition, to body armour, drones, vehicles, anti-terror crash barriers and much more, the list of off-the-shelf equipment, made for either military or policing purposes, but which can equally and effectively be adopted and used by the other, is a long one. The operational worlds of military and policing can sometimes mirror one […]

In this article, Thomas L. Nielsen examines in detail the core concepts and requirements central to the standardisation and interchangeability of ammunition, from small arms to tank guns. Most people, especially those involved in military logistics, will have a reasonable idea of what the words ‘standardisation’ and ‘interchangeability’ mean, and why they are important. Nevertheless, […]

The demand in Europe for missile defence systems and border-patrol UAVs, coupled with what a number of countries perceive as a threat from Russia, are driving defence investments. The Russian-Ukrainian war that began on 24 February has substantially increased the chances for Israeli companies to supply land systems to the EU with one conditional caveat. The Israeli Ministry […]

Europe’s Multinational MRTT Fleet (MMF) programme is the most successful example of international cooperation in armament procurement. What are the main success factors that may have applicability in future similar initiatives? European nations today face an uncertain and unpredictable strategic situation. New scenarios require new capabilities in increasing numbers, whilst the cost of individual weapons […]

The US Army has selected a winner for its Next Generation Squad Weapons (NGSW) programme to replace the M4/M4A1 carbine in the form of the Next Generation Squad Weapon-Rifle (NGSW-R) and the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) in the form of the Next Generation Squad Weapon-Automatic Rifle (NGSW-AR). Background The NGSW programme commenced in October 2018, replacing […]

In March 2022, the Russian Defence Ministry announced that it had used the hypersonic missile, KINZHAL in Ukraine. While KINZHAL is a hypersonic aero ballistic missile and ballistic missiles travel hypersonic speeds during their trajectory, the event raised concerns about future of hypersonic weapon systems. With hypersonic cruise missiles and Hypersonic Technology Vehicles (HTVs) now […]

Spain was always a crucial partner in the US effort to field missile defence capabilities in Europe to counter short, medium and intermediate range ballistic missile threats from Iran and North Korea. In May 2020, the ARLEIGH BURKE class destroyer USS ROOSEVELT (DDG 80) arrived at Rota, Spain, replacing USS CARNEY (DDG 64) as part […]

Amid the nuclear crisis, one thing that has remained constant in Iran’s national security strategy is the development and testing of a sophisticated ballistic and cruise missile capability. Missiles form an integral component of Iran’s national security strategy as such capabilities not only enable Iran to strengthen its hard power capability, but also promote soft […]

SKYKEEPER is a Battle Management, Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (BMC4I) system. It is designed for ground-based air defence (GBAD), Counter-Unmanned Air System (C-UAS) and Counter-Rocket, Artillery and Mortar (C-RAM) applications. The system was designed, developed and produced by Lockheed Martin UK, Ampthill, Bedford. This is significant as the system has UK Intellectual Property […]

In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the German Armed Forces are to be modernised after decades of neglect. In an interview with ESD magazine, Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht explains her intentions for the German Bundeswehr. ESD: In June 2022, three summits focused on the security situation in Europe and the world following Putin’s […]

Thermobaric weapons, also known as Fuel Air Explosives (FAE), vacuum or aerosol bombs, dual-stage explosives or enhanced-blast weapons, have been developed and deployed by various militaries for a range of applications since WW2. Their latest high-profile appearance has, of course, been their documented use by Russia in its war on Ukraine. From FAE mine-clearing systems […]