Archive: News & Articles

Italy’s Leonardo unveiled a number of new developments in relation to its AWHero rotary-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (RW UAV) on the first day of the Seafuture 2023 exhibition, held at La Spezia Naval base from 5 to 8 June 2023. The new developments include: a heavy fuel powerplant based on a unique twin-engine solution, increasing […]

The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Ukraine of the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) and related equipment, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 24 May 2023. The sale, which is worth an estimated cost of USD 285 M (EUR 266.5 M), has been passed to […]

The US Army has ordered Survitec’s Inflatable Walls Training System (IWTS) in a contract worth USD 2.5 M (EUR 2.3 M) for temporary training in urban warfare, the company announced on 31 may 2023. According to Survitec, which is considered a specialist in survival technologies, eight sets each of Level 2 and 4 IWTS will […]

The eight ‘seagoing artillery platforms’ ordered by the Swedish armed forces from Swedish shipbuilder Swede Ship Marine AB will be armed with the turreted naval version of the Patria NEMO 120 mm mortar system, Patria confirmed in a 26 May 2023 press release. Patria will deliver the NEMO mortar systems as a subcontractor to Swede […]

Pearson Engineering has been awarded a contract to provide a suite of capability enhancing front-end equipment (FEE) to an undisclosed end-user across both their main battle tank (MBT) and combat engineering programmes, the company announced on 1 June 2023. End users will receive their next-generation MBT equipped with Pearson Engineering’s innovative SLICE interface, General Purpose […]

The Finnish Defence Forces (FDF) Logistics Command has ordered 91 Patria 6×6 armoured vehicles as a part of the multinational Finland-led Common Armoured Vehicle Systems (CAVS) programme that also features Latvia, Sweden, and Germany, Patria announced on 2 June 2023. The contract includes spare parts, tools, operation and maintenance training, as well as a purchase […]

Promoteq, a strategic partner of the UK’s Avon Protection, has been awarded a seven-year framework contract by the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration (FMV) for Avon Protection advanced respiratory protection systems, Avon announced on 31 May 2023. The SEK 100 M (EUR 8.65 M) contract includes FM54 respirators, CS-PAPR powered air-purifying respirators and ST54 self-contained breathing […]

The president of Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky rotorcraft business, Paul Lemmo, provided a considerably upbeat outlook for the company future orderbook in an online briefing to journalists on 1 June 2023, ahead of the Paris Air Show later in the month. Regarding one of Sikorsky’s signature programmes, Lemmo said the company is confident of securing further […]

Turkish AFV manufacturer FNSS has been awarded a contract for the capability enhancement and life extension programme of some of the Turkish Land Forces’ fleet of Advanced Armoured Personnel Carriers (AAPCs), the company announced on 1 June 2023. The AAPCs covered by the contract are the ACV-15 amphibious infantry fighting vehicles delivered by FNSS to […]

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has placed an order for 300 Vector tactical unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from German small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) specialist Quantum Systems, the company announced on 31 May 2023. The order is in addition to two previous orders for 105 Vector UAVs in January 2023 and 33 in August […]

The Czech armed forces have received the first six of 62 6×6 Titus troop carriers on order, French manufacturer Nexter announced on 24 May 2023. According to Nexter, the 2019 Titus orders will be produced in collaboration with Czech industry, including CSG companies ELDIS and Tatra Defence Vehicle as well as Tatra Trucks, the chassis […]

BAE Systems took the opportunity at the LIMA 2023 defence exhibition, held in Langkawi from 23 to 27 May 2023, to brief on Project OdySSEy: the company’s concept for developing a single synthetic training environment to enable collective military training. Speaking to reporters on 24 May, the company’s senior military advisor, former Royal Air Force […]

The United Arab Emirates’ Edge Group came to LIMA 2023, held in Langkawi from 23-27 May 2023, with an intention to focus on its capabilities in autonomous systems, smart munitions, and electronic warfare (EW), the group’s director of international business, Miles Chambers, told ESD on 25 May. Identifying Southeast Asia as a key focus region […]

Malaysia’s normally tranquil tropical island of Langkawi was subjected to the thunder of dozens of fast jets from 23 to 27 May as the air displays of the LIMA 2023 defence exhibition were staged out of the adjacent Langkawi International Airport. Arguably most favoured by the local population was the air display of the Republic […]

Finnish optronics specialist Senop has signed a contract with Norway’s Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace to supply integrated fire distribution centres (FDC) to an international National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) programme. The contract consists of FDCs integrated into shelter systems along with spare parts. The FDC is a proven and fielded battle management, command, control, […]

It seems that it’s de rigeur for major defence companies to produce a ‘robot dog’ these days and at this year’s LIMA defence exhibition, held in Langkawi from 23-27 May 2023, China’s Norinco joined the trend. The Model W20, as Norinco’s four-legged robot is called, is “not just a demonstrator”, a Norinco official told ESD […]

On 24 May 2023, the Czech Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced that it had signed a contract for the manufacture and delivery of 246 CV90 MkIV tracked infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) in seven different variants worth a total of CZK 59.7 Bn (EUR 2.49 Bn). The procurement will be handled as a government-to-government (G2G) deal […]

The Malaysian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a contract with Leonardo for two ATR 72 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) variants plus related integrated logistic support and training services. The contract, worth MYR 789.6 M (EUR 159.03 M), was signed at the LIMA defence exhibition in Langkawi on 25 May 2023 and follows the selection […]

At a meeting on 24 May, the Czech government authorised Defence Minister Jana Černochová to negotiate the possibility of joining the Federal Republic of Germany’s planned purchase of Leopard 2 tanks in the 2A8 variant, according to the Czech Ministry of Defence (MoD). “This opens up the possibility for the Czech Army to acquire a […]

Last year’s Jubilee International Defence Industry Exhibition brought together 613 exhibitors from 33 countries. The trade fair hosted 60 delegations from 39 countries, including eight at the ministerial level. 25,000 guests from all over the world attended MSPO 2023. According to conservative estimates, this year’s exhibition stands a chance to be even more significant;  an […]

Dutch rotary-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (RW UAV) specialist High Eye attended the LIMA 2023 defence exhibition, held in Llangkawi, Malaysia, from 23-26 May, to promote its Airboxer platform, which has already picked up sales in the region. With a maximum take-off weight of 32 kg and powered by a 2-stroke, air-cooled, dual-injection heavy fuel engine, […]