Archive: News & Articles

With the re-election of US President Donald Trump, questions regarding the transatlantic relationship between the US and Europe have once again come to the forefront, including the extent to which the US needs Europe. A sober reading shows that the US has good reason to remain engaged in Europe; most notably, US security depends on […]

Marking 20 years of NATO Life Cycle Management (LCM), the 20th edition of the NATO LCM Conference will be held on 21 and 22 January 2025 in Brussels. Gathering numerous government and industry representatives, and chaired by Thomas Espelund Pedersen (Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation) and J. Bo Leimand (LEIMAND Freelance Consultancy), the conference […]

Almost three years since Russia invaded Ukraine, the rules-based order that once governed security on the European continent lies entirely in shreds. Yet, one European security organisation, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) was created during the Cold War to deal with precisely the threats that the European continent is faced with […]

In late 2024, the prospects for ending the war in Ukraine or at least suspending hostilities remained unclear; however, officials from both Ukraine and its partners in the West are increasingly discussing the possibility of such a scenario. The inauguration of US president-elect Trump on 20 January 2025 is considered the starting point for the […]

Pakistan’s journey to defence-industrial self-reliance has been marked by geopolitical challenges and shifting alliances. This article traces the evolution of Pakistan’s indigenous defence industry, highlighting key milestones along its journey from reliance on foreign arms to developing indigenous nuclear and conventional weapon systems. Upon independence in August 1947, Pakistan faced a significant problem as it […]

As the sun begins to set on 2024, it is time to look back at the state of key conflicts, how they have developed over the past year, and where things appear to be headed. For the most part, Ukraine has continued to steadily lose ground to Russia along the key frontlines, and while it […]

Much attention has been lavished on Russia’s strategic cyberwarfare waged against Ukraine’s critical national infrastructure. Russia’s use of cyberwarfare at tactical and operational levels, particularly in the land domain, receives less coverage, but has important implications for NATO and its Allies. London’s Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) thinktank recently published a paper by Daniel Black, […]

Driven in large part by the increasing proliferation of drones and loitering munitions, recent years have seen a resurgence of interest in very short-range/short-range air defence (V/SHORAD). This article examines recent developments in the field of V/SHORAD radars, as well as the direction these innovations are taking, and their growing significance on the modern battlefield. […]

A rapidly-changing strategic landscape demands additional flexibility from global and regional actors. President Biden’s mantra in his first days in the White House – “America is back” – indicated the renewed involvement of the USA in world affairs. It also meant that the US modus operandi as the most advanced actor in the great power […]

Over the past two years of war in Ukraine, a fairly broad consensus has emerged that small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), along with loitering munitions and low-cost alternatives such as first-person view (FPV) drones have drastically increased the risks to armoured vehicles on the battlefield. Given their low costs and high numbers, there is general […]

When the US Army terminated its Future Attack and Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) effort in early 2024, beyond cancelling an individual programme, the decision might also have indicated that the sun may have set on the armed reconnaissance helicopter as a viable type for the 21st century battlefield. On 8 February 2024 the US Army announced […]

Western nations continue to develop ground-launched hypersonic weapon systems (HWS). However, despite some incremental success, testing and fielding have progressed more slowly than anticipated. By definition, hypersonic weapons travel at speeds greater than Mach 5 (1,715 m/s). While there are many weapons which meet this definition, such as ballistic missiles, the ‘hypersonic’ label is primarily […]

The US Army continues to (mostly) make progress with its core set of priority modernisation programmes, although it has made some adjustments to accommodate both technological challenges and budgetary constraints. In 2017, the Army identified 31 modernisation efforts as top priority programmes essential for military transformation. Subsequently another four development and acquisition programmes were added […]

The US Army is developing a modular robotic combat vehicle that is comparatively light and manoeuvrable, while still suitable for a variety of missions. The Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) Campaign Plan was established in January 2019 to develop a family of three armed uncrewed ground vehicles (UGVs) of varying size and with distinct capability and […]

In September 2024, ESD got the chance to conduct an interview with Bell Textron Inc. personnel. The interview was conducted by Ian Frain. ESD: Congratulations on recent achievements in both the military (Milestone B for the V-280 Valor/FLRAA,) and parapublic marketplace (Bell 505 and Bell 407Gxi to law enforcement agencies) – how would you sum […]

Concealment is critical to survivability, but hiding effectively on the battlefield, whether troops or vehicles, day or night, is no longer as clear-cut as it once was. Hiding from the enemy and staying out of sight with the help of good camouflage is a basic requirement for survival in war. Using natural, or local cover […]

In 2023, Project EVEREST demonstrated how UK land forces could improve their sharing of data between disparate systems. Plans are now underway for a new, bigger EVEREST experiment that aims to deepen resilient connectivity and compress the decision-action loop. L3Harris Technologies conducted its first EVEREST experiment in 2023, a large demonstration of capability available today […]

Security of supply and strategic stockpiling are topping today’s agenda in civilian and military settings. Less debated but no less important, is the strategic pre-positioning of war reserve materiel near the points of need. According to DoDD 3110.07, Prepositioned War Reserve Materiel (PWRM) is “war reserve materiel and equipment strategically located to facilitate a timely […]

The concept of arming individual soldiers with grenades to increase their firepower is not new.; what we recognise today as the predecessor of the modern grenade emerged centuries ago as gunpowder, later becoming a major factor on the battlefield. For some, the concept of the grenade actually predates the gunpowder era; in Byzantium an incendiary […]

Not only are wheeled and tracked large-calibre howitzers some of the most effective systems now being used by Ukrainian artillery in their defence against Russia, but they also appear to be the favoured route taken by western procurement initiatives and programmes. As is well known, numerous NATO and Allies have provided Ukraine with a wide […]

Reporting on chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear defence issues often confronts the issues of neglect. Barring the occasional crisis that promotes a period of spending and concern, CBRN defence often lags behind in priorities. If there is a country within Europe that breaks this paradigm and consisting carries its weight in terms of CBRN defence, […]