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29 May 25. Japan’s Mitsubishi unveils unmanned IFV concept. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has designed a new unmanned tracked infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), the company has confirmed to Janes. The company unveiled a 3D image of the concept vehicle, which appears to be based on MHI’s Type 89 IFV, at the DSEI Japan 2025 show held in Chiba from 21 to 23 May, a company spokesperson told Janes on 29 May.
“The armoured combat vehicle exhibited [as a] 3D model … is an image of a future unmanned vehicle,” the spokesperson said.
He said the concept vehicle’s weapons and systems were not yet determined. He added that the vehicle has been designed by MHI for no specific procurement programme yet announced by Japan’s Ministry of Defense (MoD).
“There are no fixed devices or functions to be installed,” the spokesperson said, in reference to vehicle systems. “There is also no fixed method of procurement from the Ministry of Defense in Japan.”
Japan’s manned Type 89 IFV has been in service with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) since 1989 to support the service’s Type 90 main battle tank (MBT), which is also produced by MHI. The baseline Type 89’s primary armament is a 35 mm L/90 KDE cannon, manufactured by German company Rheinmetall, which can fire at a maximum effective range of 4,000 m. The IFV can fire two Jyu-MAT medium-range wire-guided anti-tank missiles. The Jyu-MAT, manufactured by Japan’s Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI), is a manportable, anti-tank guided missile system. It employs semi-automatic command to line-of-sight guidance for the missile. (Source: Janes)
28 May 25. NP Aerospace Canada receives order from Marshall Canada for Armoured Personnel Transport Modules. NP Aerospace, the global vehicle integrator and armour system design and manufacturer, has today announced the placement of a contract by Marshall Canada with NP Aerospace Canada, for the design and delivery of Armoured Personnel Transport Modules (APTM) as part of their wider Logistic Vehicle Modernization (LVM) program. NP Aerospace is exhibiting at CANSEC 2025 in Canada, at booth 1729. The contract will see NP Aerospace design, develop, test, certify and produce the APTMs over a 3-year period as a major supplier to the Power Team – an industry consortium comprising General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada, Marshall Canada, Mercedes-Benz (Daimler Trucks), Manac and Soframe. The Power Team was formally awarded the LVM contract by Canada’s Department of National Defence in May 2024. The modules will provide a significant level of blast and ballistic protection to the internally transported personnel. With a fully integrated design, the system will deliver the functionality and protection required to safely and comfortably transport troops on the back of Canada’s new fleet of Mercedes-Benz Zetros trucks, adding significant capability, protection, mobility and flexibility to deployed dismounted troops. As a modular ISO compatible system, the APTMs will be interchangeable between multiple base LVM platforms, as well as being able to be ground-dumped when not in use. The ISO compatibility also means they can be easily and commonly handled for strategic logistic purposes, on trucks, ships and in aircraft. NP Aerospace is already fully established as a trusted global supplier of vehicle-related products and services including integrated vehicle armour systems, such as the APTM, with a proven and resilient track record in delivering armour system design and cutting-edge lightweight armour materials technology. This contract will result in the recruitment of up to 20 more staff at NP’s Ontario base, continuing their successful growth trajectory and further contributing to the London and Southwestern Ontario region.
Alain Gauthier, Marshall Vice President – North America, said: “we are delighted to be growing our strategic relationship with NP Aerospace while investing in our Canadian supply chain under the LVM program. NP Aerospace is already a trusted supplier and partner, and we know the team possesses the required facilities, skills, knowledge, procurement and processes in place to provide the next generation of armoured personnel transport modules for the Canadian Armed Forces.”
James Kempston, NP Aerospace CEO, commented: “we’re proud to have been selected by Marshall Canada to design and deliver the APTM systems. The LVM program is a major procurement for Canada’s Department of National Defence and for NP Aerospace to be in the ‘Power Team’ supply chain is significant for us. The APTM requirement set is demanding but we have the skills and the know-how to design, develop, test and deliver a first class and compliant system”. He added: “our Canadian business is growing fast having doubled in staff in the last 12 months, and this contract will enable us to further develop our on-shore capability to serve our customers, both domestically and as a Canadian exporter. The future is bright, and I thank everyone who has been involved in this success story to date as we look forward to a continuation and expansion of our collective achievements in Canada and beyond.”
27 May 25. Italy seeks new recon vehicle, possibly as Puma replacement. Reports indicate that Ukraine could have received an unknown number of Puma 4×4 and 6×6 reconnaissance vehicles from Italy. The Italian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has published a contract notice to industry for solutions for the procurement of a new reconnaissance vehicle for the Italian Army, with the acquisition potentially reaching hundreds of vehicles. Indicated in a 19 May 2025 notice, the Italian MoD said up to 600 new reconnaissance vehicles were to be acquired, with the initial deal worth €140m ($157.8m), although this could rise to over €300m with the inclusion of options and other supplies related to the deal. At the conservative estimate, each of the Italian Army’s new reconnaissance platforms would cost around €212,000 per unit, with industry required to provide a deposit of 2% of the value of the contract. Selected industry proposals will be taken through to phase two of the programme, for further consideration. No specific timelines for the introduction of a new reconnaissance platforms into service were stated. The Italian Army currently operates the four-person VBL Puma 4×4 in the armoured reconnaissance role, with 180 units delivered from 2003 onwards by Iveco Oto Melara. Italy also operates 380 of the 6×6 Puma as armoured personnel carriers, able to embark up to six soldiers, plus the driver. However; the procurement of hundreds of new reconnaissance platforms indicates a potential replacement for the Puma 4×4 and 6×6 could be on the cards. At the time of publishing, the Italian MoD had not responded to requests for comment by Army Technology regarding a timeframe for delivery of the new reconnaissance vehicle. Reports in April, including from Ukrainian outlet United 24, stated that an unknown number of Italian Puma 4×4 and 6×6 vehicles had been donated to Ukraine. When contacted, the Ukrainian armed forces communications secretariat declined to comment as to whether Italian Puma 4×4 and 6×6 reconnaissance vehicles were in service with Ukraine. In January, the Italian government confirmed the provision of its latest military assistance package to Ukraine, although exact platforms and capabilities were not disclosed.
Italy’s declining defence spending
According to GlobalData’s 2024 report on the Italy’s defence forecast, the country was expected to see a slight decline in military spending from 2025-2029, making it an outlier among major Western European nations. From 2025-29, a steady decrease in expenditure from $29.2bn to $27.8bn was anticipated, with a compound annual growth rate of -1.3%. Despite these constraints, Italy maintains a capable military, with significant air, naval, and international commitments shaping its future defence planning. (Source: army-technology.com)
27 May 25. With Iveco Defence up for sale, Italy may lose a key military supplier. Prospective buyers are lining up to acquire Iveco Defence Vehicles – Italy’s biggest military vehicle maker – and the Italian government may struggle to stop it being sold overseas, a source has told Defense News. The chief supplier of fighting vehicles to the Italian army, IDV could be sold by year’s end by its parent company Iveco, which is owned by the Exor Group, which is the largest shareholder in car maker Stellantis and controlled by the Italian Agnelli family. On May 15 Iveco said IDV would be spun off this year, with a possible sale to follow.
“By the end of the year the spin-off will start and in the meantime offers to buy the firm will be evaluated,” said a spokesperson.
“We have had preliminary offers from various strategic players,” said CFO Anna Tanganelli.
Last year IDV saw revenue rise by 15% to €1.1bn ($1.3bn) as land-warfare budgets grow around the world in response to the Ukraine war. One firm has publicly thrown its hat in the ring to date. On May 8, the CEO of Italian defense giant Leonardo, Roberto Cingolani, said Leonardo had put in a joint offer with Germany’s Rheinmetall. Leonardo and Rheinmetall are already in business with a joint venture announced last year to build 1,050 new infantry fighting vehicles for the Italian army based on the Rheinmetall Lynx and 132 tanks based on Rheinmetall’s under-development Panther KF51. IDV also has a slice of the huge Italian vehicle order. In December it said it had signed a deal with Leonardo to take 12-15% of the development and production work on the deal, which has been valued at €23bn. Leonardo and IDV already had a longstanding joint venture in place, called CIO, which builds VBM wheeled fighting vehicles and wheeled Centauro tanks for the Italian army. An industrial source said Leonardo offered to buy IDV for €750m last year but was turned down.
“They could have had it if they’d offered a bn, but they didn’t,” said the source.
Meanwhile, numerous firms from around the world are reportedly ready to put in offers for IDV, with Spanish media suggesting Spain‘s Indra is ready to pay €1 bn, while U.S. funds and French-German consortium KNDS also reportedly keen. BAE Systems will be seen as possible bidder after it announced on Thursday a partnership between BAE Systems Hägglunds and IDV to offer its BvS10 all-terrain vehicle to the Italian army, with design and manufacturing to happen in Italy. BAE already builds amphibious vehicles with IDV for the U.S. Marines. The industrial source said however that given IDV’s ties to the Italian military and to Leonardo, there would be reluctance to see it sold to an overseas buyer.
“The Italian army and members of the government would like IDV to stay Italian,” said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.
But Cingolani has suggested Leonardo will be reluctant to pay top dollar just to keep IDV Italian, and Exor will likely be seeking maximum profit on the sale of a firm which is flush with work, knowing the firms outside Europe are increasingly interested in buying EU businesses as the bloc builds up its defense war chest. One solution being touted in the Italian media is that the Italian government use its so-called ‘Golden Power’ law, which can be used to control or block the sale of strategic Italian firms.
But an Italian expert on the law said it might not be applicable in the case of IDV.
“The law is usually used to impose conditions for a new buyer, as occurred when GE bought Italian firm Avio Aero, or to stop a purchase by a buyer considered potentially hostile. But there has never been a case when it was used to exclude one or more bidders in a group of bidders,” said the source, who declined to be named.
“If the Italian government, which has a controlling stake in Leonardo, blocks a sale to Indra for example, could that be legally challenged as market interference? Indra is not China,” said the source. (Source: Defense News)
23 May 25. HAVELSAN is moving into mass production of the medium-class Level 1 autonomous unmanned ground vehicle BARKAN, which entered the inventory in 2023, following a decision by the Presidency of Defense Industries. Based on feedback from its field use since 2023, BARKAN’s operational capabilities have been significantly enhanced. With the integration of numerous useful payloads, BARKAN has achieved successful outcomes in all activities within real operational zones. Following the notification of the mass production decision by the Presidency of Defense Industries, HAVELSAN decided to expand its project team to enhance its engineering capabilities. To respond quickly to the mass production demand, HAVELSAN also included new and competent subcontractors in its ecosystem. HAVELSAN conducts platform development processes with subcontractors in its ecosystem, while managing the software development processes – its area of greatest expertise – with dedicated project engineers. As BARKAN’s software capabilities improve, its operational performance in the field continues to grow steadily. HAVELSAN also utilises simulation technologies – one of the most critical technological areas – in BARKAN’s development. In addition to field tests, simulations conducted in virtual environments make BARKAN the most powerful and well-equipped vehicle in its class.
HAVELSAN General Manager Dr. Mehmet Akif Nacar commented on the mass production decision for BARKAN, stating, “From day one, we anticipated that our existing skill set would make BARKAN a formidable system. However, our Defense Industries Presidency and the Turkish Land Forces Command strongly supported and embraced BARKAN’s development. Our partner firms also worked in great harmony. I extend my gratitude to everyone involved.”
HAVELSAN Deputy General Manager for Simulation, Autonomous, and Platform Management Technologies, Muhittin Solmaz, emphasised that the efforts surrounding BARKAN were not limited to developing an unmanned ground vehicle, but rather focused on swarm capability from the start. He said, “BARKAN performs excellently on its own but has also been developed to work in harmony with other unmanned air and ground systems when operating in a swarm. Every contribution to BARKAN’s development is also a contribution to swarm capability.”
HAVELSAN Product Development and ELD Director Veysel Ataoğlu noted that the most valuable aspect of BARKAN’s development was working shoulder to shoulder with security forces in the field. He said, “At the end of this intense, exhausting journey driven by our passion to serve our country, the decision for mass production as a sign of trust in BARKAN has become a great source of motivation for our team. I thank my teammates, the security forces we collaborated with on the ground, the personnel from the Defense Industries Presidency who meticulously followed every step of the development, and the staff of our subcontractors. This success is equally theirs.” (Source: joint-forces.com)
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TEK Military Seating Limited
TEK Military Seating Limited is a UK based designer and manufacturer of ProTEK military vehicle seating which offer the highest standards of safety and protection. The ProTEK brand is well respected across the globe for its robust construction, innovative design, built in modularity and cost effectiveness. Our superior products are supported by our experienced team who endeavor to offer unrivalled service to our customers from enquiry, through design and acceptance, to through life support.
From its inception ProTEK seats have been designed around a family of innovative seat frames onto which tested and certified modules can be fitted to create a bespoke solution for the user. These include Blast protection to Stanag 4569 standards, vibration reduction, head and body protection, seat risers and turntables, fore & aft adjustment, and seat back rake along with viable seat dimensions without the need for additional tooling costs.
Contact: Paul Fleming
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