Archive: News & Articles

The chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threat refuses to disappear. Continued examples of actual and alleged uses of chemical weapons around the world show that the spectre of chemical warfare is not relegated to history. Nuclear weapons still exist, and the prospect of accidents and incidents involving nuclear power plants and radioactive materials is […]

The emergence of big data technologies marks the commencement of a new stage in data-centric decision-making, offering unparalleled prospects for diverse stakeholders to extract valuable insights from vast and diverse datasets. Within the military domain, defined by the critical importance of information dominance, skilful deployment of big data analytics has the potential to confer a […]

The European defence landscape is currently experiencing substantial changes driven not only by the pressing threat posed by the Russia–Ukraine conflict, but also by emerging patterns, technological advances, and cooperative ventures. Merging insights from policy analysis and practitioner perspectives, this article delves into pivotal trends shaping the domain, innovative developments impacting defence capabilities, and collaborative […]

In the wake of the war in Ukraine, Bulgaria finds itself poised to revamp its antiquated and legacy forces. Following over two decades of underinvestment in defence, the challenges confronting the Bulgarian armed forces have reached a critical juncture. There is a looming risk that basic capabilities might soon fall beyond domestic fulfilment, casting a […]

The tank transporter, or perhaps more accurately, the heavy equipment transporter (HET) will not be the most numerous ‘truck’ in the inventory of any armed force, it’s number seldom exceeding a third of the to-be-transported heavy armour fleet. However, despite those relatively small numbers, it will most definitely be one of the most important ‘trucks’ […]

Making planes since the early days of manned flight, Spain’s expertise in the aviation and aerospace sectors has grown over the years, making it one of today’s world leaders in these fields, with the country becoming a major supplier of military aircraft, space systems, and equipment. As a case in point, when the Spanish Ministry […]

Donald Trump was far from the only US president to admonish NATO for low defence spending to little avail, but the belligerent actions of Russian President Putin have galvanised NATO in a way the Russian leader did not foresee. On 25 May 2017 Donald Trump attended his first NATO summit in Brussels as US president, […]

With the long distances involved in reaching the Canadian market, describing the defence sector is a challenging undertaking when it comes to designing a unique marketing strategy. This article examines the commercial prospects that exist in Canada today, given the country’s growing interest in the Arctic region, an area where Canada has a lot to […]

During the latest Air & Space Forces Association (AFA) Warfare Symposium in Aurora, Colorado on 12 February 2024, USAF Secretary Frank Kendall presented his plans for a deep restructuring of his department. Kendall and Air & Space Force leaders announced sweeping changes to the USAF’s whole organisation, including its manning, readiness and weapons development. These […]

The rapid seizure of operational port facilities has typically been a vital objective of any major amphibious invasion. Conversely, effective measures aimed at the denial of these facilities can significantly hinder an opponent’s operations. This article looks at the continued relevance of port destruction, using the current threat posed by mainland China to Taiwan as […]

Bordering Ukraine and with direct access to the Black Sea, the tempo of defence planning and defence-related acquisitions has never been more dynamic in Romania. With an estimated defence expenditure of 2.44% of GDP in 2023, of which 35.2% was dedicated to the acquisition of major equipment (including related R&D), Romania attracts the attention of […]

Well, they certainly seem to be headed that way. While some order books might be fuller than others, construction capabilities at European shipyards overall are enough to rival leading naval shipyards in almost any global region. Moreover, construction projects now underway point to a turnaround which should gather pace, particularly if defence budgets improve. Low […]

The need to deploy the capacity to secure the underwater domain is becoming an increased area of focus for navies across the globe. MDM discussed recent trends in the sector with Chris Tucker from Systems Engineering and Assessment Ltd (SEA), a subsidiary of British defence technology company, Cohort Plc MDM: The importance of being able […]

On consecutive days in February 2024, Babcock International Group hosted members of the investor and media communities at a series of presentations at Devonport Royal Dockyard in Plymouth, South West England. Conrad Waters, MDM’s Joint Editor in Chief, was present at the media event. Here, the group’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) David Lockwood and Chief […]

A major element of the trilateral AUKUS defence security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States that was first announced in September 2021 is to support the acquisition of conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs) for the Royal Australian Navy. Subsequently, in March 2023, a pathway to the achievement of this capability was […]

While widely debated among politicians and ethically savvy people, the complexities around autonomous weapon systems (AWS) can quickly turn into a headache for engineers and the warfighter. It is well-known that interpretations of the concept vary, depending on culture, social group, political system, and even power politics. Integrating certain levels of autonomy into weapons systems […]

If you declare war on something, industry will make goods to sell to the warriors. This has been the case since antiquity. The so-called ‘War on Drugs’ is no exception. A variety of techniques and technologies have come into use in the worldwide struggle against smuggling, manufacturing, and sale of dangerous drugs. The substances of […]

Tanks provide a vital form of fire support in Ukraine, which means that both sides rely extensively on high explosive (HE) and guided ammunition natures. If you watch enough videos and read enough reports, you will get a sense of the vast scale of Ukraine. It is more easily appreciated by driving; even the relatively […]

As sensor fusion and AI begin to enter the networked warfighting space, armed forces have been experimenting with and implementing some of the new possibilities these technologies can provide.  In 2020 a data centre at Joint Base Lewis McChord in the US began to receive data from a number of low earth orbit satellites and […]

As submarines become quieter and operations shift towards the littorals, high-end sonar systems are needed in order to better detect and identify targets in the water column, especially in a cluttered environment. This article examines the latest technologies being used to improve sonar performance and the new products on the market that meet emerging naval […]

Technological developments in the field of naval mine countermeasures (MCM) are revolutionising a traditionally dangerous, difficult and time-consuming process. Advances in areas such as networking, autonomy and wider aspects of artificial intelligence are speeding the detection, identification, classification and disposal of mines. Significantly, they also offer the prospect of ‘taking the ship out of the […]