Archive: News & Articles

It is remarkable how a change in leadership in one country can so radically alter the overall strategic picture for many others, especially when this country is the US. In the wake of the Munich Security Conference, and the disastrous 28 February 2025 meeting between Presidents Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Europe finds itself at […]

Since the outset of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine has maintained the ban on arms exports, naturally directing all supplies to sustain its own effort to repel Moscow’s onslaught. Now, three full years into the war, there are more and more voices highlighting the need to lift the restrictions. In October 2024, Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem […]

The demand for anti-tank guided missiles is expected to grow in the near future, with a clear need for new capabilities. Since their introduction in the 1950s and 1960s, anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) have evolved from purely anti-tank assets into versatile weapons capable of engaging a wide range of targets, including armoured fighting vehicles, low-and-slow […]

The issue of legal and procedural forensics does not come up very often in this publication. However, the collection, handling, storage, and exploitation of evidence of use of chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear (CBRN) weapons and materials is actually an issue of vital importance. The idea that forensics is something that police and courts need […]

The market for armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) is growing, and the vehicle turret market is following suit. The armoured fighting vehicle and vehicle turret markets are closely linked, both influenced by shared dynamics and various factors—political, technological, and tactical. Some of these factors were present during the past decade, while a number of new factors […]

Protected patrol vehicles balance mobility with protection from mine and ballistic threats. While they come in various size, weight and protection configurations, the current trend is pointing towards prioritising enhanced mobility over heavy armour. What follows is a selected overview of currently marketed systems. Protected patrol vehicles (PPVs) are versatile or multi-mission-capable vehicles. The British […]

The personal defence weapon is a relatively recent development in terms of small arms, emerging in the 1980s in response to a NATO requirement for a new weapons system that would potentially replace the submachine gun and the pistol in certain applications. Yet thus far, disruption seems to have been relatively minimal. The military pistol […]

Transmissions play a decisive role in the performance profile of wheeled and tracked vehicles, especially when used off-road on construction sites, off-road and in the military. At its production facility in Szentgotthárd (Hungary), US transmission manufacturer Allison Transmission presented its transmission assembly and selected examples in practical tests. In motor vehicles, transmissions distribute engine power […]

As the range of battlefield threats proliferates to include systems such as mini-UAVs and loitering munitions, AFV situational awareness capabilities are rapidly expanding to match them. While the ‘iron triangle’ of armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) design – firepower, protection and mobility – still holds true, it is increasingly an AFV’s situational awareness systems that are […]

Emerging threats observed in the ongoing Russo–Ukrainian conflict and a series of conflicts in the Middle East from 2022 to 2024 have sparked renewed interest in armoured vehicles and their protection. Contemporary solutions include various layers of protection designed to increase the survivability of armoured vehicles against multiple threats on the battlefield. Among other measures, […]

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 […]

Investment in naval surface-to-surface guided weapons (SSGWs) has fallen behind since the end of the Cold War but recent projects aim to modernise missile capabilities and adapt them for the emerging operational environment. Meanwhile naval gun systems are also proving to offer a useful all-round multi-mission fire support and air defence capability for warships, being […]

Threats to surface fleet vessels are more numerous and potentially devastating than at any time in naval history, with a ship’s survivability a fundamental consideration that begins at the concept and design stages of a vessel’s existence. Watching the horizon. Today’s threats to surface ships will come from all directions, fast, and in potentially high-density […]

Submarine rescue systems, both new and old, along with related, advanced equipment and technologies, offer the undersea world of submariners more reassurance of being rescued from a disabled submarine than ever. Yet, constant training and practice in the use of such systems are required to ensure ‘time to first rescue’ is minimised. This article takes […]

Submersible vessels capable of both surface and underwater operations provide flexible options for Special Operations Forces. They are considerably smaller than conventional attack submarines, and serve a variety of mostly specialised mission types. Special Operations Forces (SOFs) are the primary users of manned submersibles, which have popularly been referred to as miniature/midget submarines or mini-subs. […]

Combat divers, expertly trained and resilient, rely on a wide range of kit, tough enough to support the execution of typically arduous, covert ops. From rebreathers to compressed gas systems, tactical dive submersibles and more, the gear used by the combat diver enables extreme missions to be undertaken, while ensuring that optimum life support and […]

Uncrewed surface vessel (USV) operations amongst NATO members are undergoing something of a sea change, due in large part to lessons learned from the maritime components of the ongoing Russo–Ukraine war. At the recent Portuguese Navy-led, NATO co-hosted ‘REPMUS 2024’ (Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping with Maritime Unmanned Systems) exercise held at Troia, southern Portugal, Allied […]

Warfighting in a saturated radio spectrum places a premium on command and control, and spectrum management. The US Joint Electromagnetic Battle Management system should help both. War may be raging in Ukraine but, for the most part, cell phone coverage is available. Broadcasters near the front transmit their footage and reports across satellite links. SpaceX’s […]