Archive: News & Articles

History teaches us that all militaries, even the strongest and the most modern ones, almost as a rule, are preparing for ‘the previous war’. Experiences from the current war in Ukraine are showing that military conflict on European soil between peer competitors is fought on completely different principles than those predicted and prepared for in […]

The War in Ukraine and a general increase in military spending is pushing several countries to modernise their ageing naval fleets, thus boosting the order books of shipyards after years of negative outlook. If this is good news, the situation remains complicated within the EU, where shipbuilders’ economic outlook is less prosperous compared with Asian […]

There is over a century of broad amity between the United States and the United Kingdom. The defence and security alliance between the United States and the United Kingdom is, indeed, a special one. Americans and Britons fought alongside each other in two world wars, Korea, and several conflicts in the Middle East. Both were […]

Electronic Warfare (EW) in Ukraine has been a critical enabler for both sides of the war in Ukraine, with each scrambling to adapt to modern battlefield possibilities within the electromagnetic spectrum. This domain has been used for a variety of purposes, including gathering information, target locating/positioning, disruption, deception, and even downing UAVs. While EW has […]

In this article, Ian Frain examines some of the heavy-lift helicopter programmes from the recent past and present. Currently, there are only four heavy-lift platforms in the world. The twin-engine, eight-blade Russian Helicopters Mil Mi-26, NATO reporting name Halo, is the largest helicopter currently in service, since the late 1980s. Then there is the three-engine, […]

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have become a crucial asset on the battlefield in the last decades. Initially a niche product that only a few of the best funded armies in the world could afford, these systems are now broadly used by state and non-state actors, and the war in Ukraine has clearly proved their importance […]

While tactical ballistic missiles have been used on battlefields in previous conflicts, the war in Ukraine has seen some of the most intense usage of such systems in any modern conflict. With some historical introductory anecdotes, this article looks at tactical missile use against Ukraine through the eyes of Ukrainian intelligence. It addresses developments in […]

As part of its ongoing modernisation, the Australian military is pursuing several helicopter procurement programmes to benefit all three service arms. UH-60M Black Hawk In January 2023 the Australian Department of Defence (DoD) formally announced its decision to purchase 40 Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters. The procurement package is valued at AUD 2.8 Bn (approximately […]

In a worsening missile threat environment, the need for comprehensive and technologically superior ballistic missile defence (BMD) is more important for western allies now, than at any other time in world history. The US and its NATO allies have a great responsibility to protect their respective populations in what are, probably, the most dangerous geopolitical […]

Passive IRST (infrared search and track) sensors – whether built-in or in podded solutions – are an essential element of modern and future combat aircraft. IRST is a form of FLIR (forward looking infrared) that tracks individual targets, generally for weapons guidance or linked recce, while FLIR alone just ‘sees’ infrared heat signatures. Passive automatic […]

The United States Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is developing a Next Generation Interceptor (NGI) to support homeland defence from ballistic missiles. The first units could be fielded in 2027 or 2028. The United States began fielding a Ground-based Missile Defense (GMD) system in 2004. It was never feasible or intended to protect North America from […]

Widespread acquisition of the Lockheed Martin F-35 across Europe is proving to be a transformational experience for the air forces adopting the type, Peter Felstead reports. The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lighting II has swept through Europe to become the continent’s dominant fifth-generation combat air platform, securing sales not only with former operators of the Lockheed […]

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) has a clear roadmap to revitalise its Suppression of Enemy Air Defence capabilities. The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation’s (NATO’s) Suppression of Enemy Air Defence (SEAD) and Destruction of Enemy Air Defence (DEAD) posture arguably took a back seat during alliance Counter-Insurgency (COIN) operations in Afghanistan. NATO SEAD/DEAD came to […]

Having now been in service for almost 20 years, the Eurofighter Typhoon is reaching full maturity as a combat air platform. While most of its users, in Europe at least, have now joined the ‘F-35 club’, the Typhoon will continue to operate as a potent complement to the F-35 for some years to come. Peter […]

With Europe exposed to war on its doorstep once again, and the NATO alliance continuing to face some internal political opposition with regard to the accession of its newest candidates, the modern European security environment is a challenging one to say the least. In May 2023, ESD interviewed Lieutenant General Göran Mårtensson, Director General of […]

Ultra High Frequency (UHF) radio, despite being over eight decades old, is still indispensable for military communications. How did this vital technology evolve and how does it work? Calling it Ultra High Frequency is a misnomer, compared to other frequencies in the radio part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Judged by today’s standard, UHF is not […]

This correspondent has covered various aspects of the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) detection business for a number of years in this magazine, often with emphasis on manufacturers and markets. The manufacturers and markets remain largely the same as discussed in the past. As an active consultant in the field, your correspondent is often […]

Whether for shelters, parachutes, combat clothing, camouflage and more, some highly advanced technologies go into the making of textiles found in the many diverse and demanding applications across today’s operational environments. Conducting operations in exacting military scenarios for extended periods places huge demands on individual soldiers, airmen and sailors and requires that, as far as […]

The Swedish Security and Defence Industry Association (SOFF) represents enterprises with security and defence equipment and services in Sweden. SOFF currently has 180 member companies of which 100 SME’s – ranging from one-man businesses to major national defence contractors. Whereas the enterprises have approximately 30,000 employees, the subcontractor level employs even more people. The SOFF […]

After three decades of development, the THAAD ballistic missile defence (BMD) system – once considered destined to fail – is praised as the most advanced BMD system in the world. As defined by the US Defense Department’s Missile Defense Agency (MDA), the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) element provides the US military’s Missile Defense […]

In a previous article titled ‘The Art of Logistics’, published in ESD 03/2023, the authors looked into ammunition logistics, specifically the issue of required stock levels and supply to front lines. In this article, the authors look to longer-term logistics and supplies. The previous article recalled ‘30 days of supply (30 DOS)’ as an oft-quoted […]