Archive: News & Articles

The United Kingdom has provided the Ukrainian Air Force (Povitryani Syly Ukrayiny – PSU) with Storm Shadow air-launched deep strike cruise missiles in advance of the Ukrainian military expected counter-offensive against the Russian forces that have invaded eastern Ukraine. Announcing the transfer in the UK House of Commons on 11 May 2023, UK Defence Secretary […]

Regulus Cyber, an Israel-based specialist in software-based GPS/GNSS security, announced on 9 May 2023 that it is launching a new fully operational counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) solution designed to protect armoured vehicles, convoys and deployed troops from hostile unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), including swarming UAV attacks. Called the Ring ARM-V, the system “brings unmatched C-UAS […]

Elbit Systems UK has been awarded a contract from the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to provide, maintain and operate the Ground Manoeuvre Synthetic Trainer (GMST) system for UK Boxer Mechanised Infantry Vehicles (MIVs) and Challenger 3 main battle tanks (MBTs) under the British Army’s Project Vulcan, the company announced on 9 May 2023. The […]

The US State Department has approved a potential Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Latvia of the Naval Strike Missile Coastal Defense System (NSM CDS) and related equipment, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 2 May 2023.  The sale, worth an estimated USD 110 M (EUR 99.76 M), has now ben passed to […]

Lockheed Martin has been awarded a USD 194.12 M (EUR 175.75 M) hybrid (cost-plus-fixed-fee and fixed-price incentive) contract to recapitalise more Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRSs) into the M270A2 configuration, the US Department of Defense announced on 28 April 2023. The contract covers MLRS launchers operated by the US Army as well as by Italy […]

BAE Systems Hägglunds announced on 2 May 2023 that its has signed a contract with Slovakian company Koval Systems in support of the production of CV90MkIV infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) for the Slovak armed forces. The contract covers the assembly of complete turret systems and the production of mechanical turret components for Slovakian CV90s; the country ordered 152 […]

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a contract with Saab for Giraffe 1X surveillance radars, the Swedish company announced on 2 May 2023. The order is valued at around SEK 264 M (EUR 23.36 M) and covers 11 Giraffe 1X systems, deliveries of which have already begun. The acquisition of Giraffe 1X systems […]

The US Army has awarded Lockheed Martin a not-to-exceed USD 4.79 Bn (EUR 4.34 Bn) contract to manufacture two full-rate production lots of Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rounds and associated equipment, the company announced on 27 April 2023. The contract calls for the production of GMLRS Unitary and Alternative Warhead (AW) rockets and integrated logistics support […]

Germany and the UK have signed an agreement to work together on the next phase developing advanced armour-piercing ammunition for the Challenger 3 main battle tank (MBT) programme, the UK Ministry of Defence’s (MoD’s) Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) organisation announced on 27 April 2023. DE&S CEO Andy Start, in his role as UK National […]

The Polish Armaments Agency has placed a contract with MBDA to supply Common Anti-Air Modular Missiles (CAMMs) and iLaunchers for Poland’s Pilica+ air defence upgrade programme, the European missile house announced on 28 April 2023. The contract, worth GBP 1.9 Bn (EUR 2.16 Bn), covers the manufacture of a total of 22 PILICA+ air defence […]

AeroVironment received additional funding of USD 64.6 M (EUR 58.66 M) on 24 March 2023 from the US Army Tactical Aviation and Ground Munitions (TAGM) project office for the procurement of Switchblade 300 loitering munitions, the company announced on 26 April. This latest contract includes Foreign Military Sales (FMS) of Switchblade 300 for the first time […]

British vehicle protection specialist Jankel has received a major order from Supacat to supply 70 blast and seating protection systems for Supacat HMT high-mobility vehicles, Jankel announced on 26 April 2023. The order has been placed to enable the rapid production of 70 new Jackal vehicles for the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD): a contract […]

Turkish armoured vehicle manufacturer Nurol Makina partnered with Rheinmetall Norway at this year’s Live Firing Show, held at Pabradė military base near Vilnius on 26 April 2023, to conduct a live firing from an Ejder Yalçın 4×4 tactical armoured vehicle using the Ragnarok 120 mm mortar system. Nurol Makina’s appearance at the Lithuanian show was […]

The US Army Contracting Command has awarded Lockheed Martin a contract to produce Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles for USD2.4 Bn (EUR 2.2 Bn). The missiles, for the US Army and foreign Patriot users via Foreign Military Sales (FMS), are to be delivered by 31 December 2029. With an estimated price of around USD4.1 M […]

Australia has announced a major revamping of its defence strategy, acknowledging the need to project its military power further into the Asia-Pacific region in light of what is perceived as an increased threat from China. Releasing a public version of the country’s Defence Strategic Review on 24 April 2023, the government of Prime Minister Anthony […]

Germany has ordered an additional 227 BvS10 Viking all-terrain vehicles in a contract worth USD 400 M (EUR 362.6 M), manufacturer BAE Systems announced in 24 April 2023. The vehicles were ordered through the international Collaborative All-Terrain Vehicle (CATV) programme, under which Germany, Sweden and the United Kingdom are able to jointly procure ATVs from […]

Foreign powers are continuing to evacuate their diplomats and nationals from Sudan after the weekend of 22/23 April 2023 saw numerous rescue missions mounted amid continued fighting between two military factions in the country: the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). On 22 April a group of more than 100 US […]

During the meeting of the Ukraine Contact Group in Ramstein on 21 April 2023, the defence ministers from Germany, Poland and Ukraine agreed on the establishment of a maintenance hub for the Leopard 2 main battle tanks (MBTs) transferred to the Ukrainian Army and signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to this effect. A total […]

The Australian government of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is about to make drastic cuts to Australian AFV procurement amid an assertion that defence programmes announced since 2020 under the prime ministership of Scott Morrison are underfunded by 24% over the next four years. In its response to Australia’s Defence Strategic Review (DSR), which it received […]

To mark the 75th anniversary of Israel, ESD reached out to a few members of Israeli defence industrial community. We selected a few representative companies of the air, land, sea, and integrated technologies sectors to ask about the role they saw their country and respective companies playing in European Security and Defence. Alex Shapochnik, CEO […]

BAE Systems Hägglunds has signed a contract with Norwegian company Ritek AS to produce two new variants of its CV90 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) for the Swedish armed forces, the company announced on 20 April 2023. The new variants will be a forward maintenance vehicle and a combat engineer variant. The forward maintenance vehicle will […]