Defence Blog Posts

Babcock Team 31 has unveiled Arrowhead 140 as its design for the Ministry of Defence’s new £1.25 billion Type 31e general purpose light frigate programme. Launching the new platform,  ‘Team 31’ – led by Babcock and including Thales, OMT, BMT, Harland and Wolff and Ferguson Marine – underlined  the vessel’s established, ‘at sea’ design baseline […]

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The Defence Secretary, Gavin Williamson, has praised British Army personnel who are preparing to train park rangers in Malawi in techniques that will help them protect African elephants and for the first time, black rhinos from poachers. Mr Williamson met several personnel at West Midlands Safari Park as they prepare to deploy to East Africa next […]

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The US Army has partnered with Northrop Grumman to deploy enhanced Joint Tactical Ground Station (JTAGS) capabilities in Japan, bolstering battlespace awareness and missile defence. The Japanese project forms part of a wider programme of JTAGS modernisation awarded to Northrop Grumman some years previous. The system itself dates back to 1997 when it was first […]

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Lockheed Martin has put its fifth Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF-5) satellite through its paces in realistic simulations of its future launch experience. The satellite completed the tests successfully and is now in system-level testing in preparation for delivery to the US Air Force in 2019. For the 39 days of Thermal Vacuum Chamber (TVAC) […]

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Saab has secured a deal worth around SEK 224 million with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) relating to the upgrade of the Gripen C/D system. The order primarily involves improvements to and modifications of existing capabilities in the so-called MS20 upgrade, which was introduced across the Swedish Air Force Gripen fleet in 2016. The […]

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VICIS has been awarded a contract from the US Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center (NSRDEC) to improve Army and Marine Corps combat helmets. The Company will research ways to replace the combat helmets’ existing foam liner pads with its own innovative liner technology derived from structures developed for its football helmets. Several […]

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The Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has announced that the new Land Ceptor missile system has completed its first successful firing trials. Trials of the new weapon system took place close to the Baltic Sea on a Swedish test fire range, with a missile being launched from a vehicle and destroying an aerial target in a […]

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Lockheed Martin has contracted BAE Systems to confirm the readiness of critical electronic warfare (EW) systems aboard the F-35 Lightening II. Under a five-year contract, BAE Systems will oversee the supply chain on Lockheed Martin’s behalf and establish the necessary infrastructure to ensure the technology is mission capable and available to all warfighters. “As a […]

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As part of Project Anvil, over £200 million is being invested in infrastructure works to prepare RAF Marham for the arrival of the F-35B Lightning multi-role combat aircraft later this year.  The F-35B Lightning II is the world’s most advanced, fifth-generation aircraft that the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy will jointly operate from both land and sea, forming an integral […]

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Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has announced the number of Army reserves in Northern Ireland will increase by nearly 200. Mr Williamson made the announcement while visiting Northern Ireland based reservists from 152 (North Irish) Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps and 2nd Battalion, the Royal Irish Regiment. During the visit he also received an update on defence […]

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The Red Arrows have been given approval to officially begin their 2018 season – displaying to millions during a milestone year of commemoration and celebration. Following months of training and perfecting dynamic new manoeuvres, the Red Arrows were awarded Public Display Authority (PDA) earlier today – the formal consent needed to perform for people at […]

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The Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has announced that the £850 million Sea Ceptor missile system responsible for protecting Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers has officially entered service. The system provides a powerful shield against airborne threats, including hostile combat jets, helicopters and other missiles, and has been developed and manufactured through Ministry of Defence contracts […]

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Defence Minister Guto Bebb has announced the delivery of the first of a fleet of new helicopters designed for Royal Marine aircraft carrier operations. The Commando Merlin Mk4 has been upgraded to a faster and more powerful aircraft than its predecessor, the Merlin Mk3 standard. It now sports a maritime grey coat, has a folding main […]

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