A Forecast International blog about the arms trade, geopolitics, defense and security, and military spending.
The beginning months of 2025 are already signaling a pivotal year for U.S. unmanned surface vessel (USV) developments. In particular, work on scalable small autonomous USVs capable of swarming operations …
American USV Builders Anticipate Mass Demand from U.S. Navy Read More
The Pentagon is undertaking a sweeping review of military spending that could potentially realign tens of billions of dollars per year to higher-priority programs. The effort, spearheaded by Defense Secretary …
Pentagon Launches Sweeping Defense Spending Review Read More
Algerian state television reported this week that Algeria has purchased Su-57 fighter jets from the Russian defense industry, making the country the first export customer for the jets. Pilots are …
Russia to Export Su-57E in 2025 Read More
The FY25 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), signed into law in December, sidestepped calls from some lawmakers for the policy bill to increase the Pentagon’s topline budget, but the legislation …
Key Takeaways from the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act Read More
A recent arms sale announced by the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has highlighted the rising demand for GPS anti-jamming technology. The approved Foreign Military Sale, revealed on January …
Rising Demand for GPS Anti-Jamming Technology Read More
The V-BAT (also designated MQ-35A) is a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) reconnaissance unmanned aerial system (UAS) developed by Shield AI. As a Group 3 unmanned aircraft, the V-BAT is …
BRIEFER: Shield AI V-BAT Read More
The Marine Corps recently released its 2025 Aviation Plan, outlining its visions for the future of Marine Aviation. The plan emphasizes a balance between maintaining readiness and investing in modernization …
Marine Corps Unveils 2025 Aviation Plan Read More
The U.S. Army recently announced a new self-propelled howitzer (SPH) competition, launching in mid-February. The Army plans to award Phase I contracts to an unspecified number of companies by September …
U.S. Army Announces Self-Propelled Howitzer Competition Read More
The People’s Republic of China (PRC) self-propelled howitzer (SPH) program represents a significant effort to modernize its heavy artillery. Over the years, the PRC has continuously developed and improved its …
BRIEFER: People’s Liberation Army Self-Propelled Howitzers Read More
The extra-large unmanned underwater vehicle (XLUUV) segment is emerging as the fastest-growing sector of the defense undersea drone market. Navies worldwide are scrambling to turn research and prototyping efforts into …
Extra-Large Undersea Drones: A Global Snapshot Read More