• Defence Helicopter

  Heli-Expo 2016: Civil V-280 not yet on horizon

  1st March 2016

  Despite bringing its V-280 military tiltrotor to the civil helicopter extravaganza that is Heli-Expo, Bell Helicopter has again poured cold water over suggestions it is …

• Defence Helicopter

  Heli-Expo 2016: MD reveals new attack helicopter (video)

  2nd March 2016

  MD Helicopters has launched a new attack helicopter programme it has dubbed the ‘6XX’ with the aggressive timeline of being ready for market in 2018. …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  UAV takes on Aussie sharks

  1st March 2016

  As part of an innovative programme in Australia, a UAV began trials in New South Wales this week to help lifesavers spot predatory sharks in …

• Land Warfare

  Russian Boomerang to hit in 2017

  17th February 2016

  A new 8x8 armoured vehicle family is set to enter the Russian Army’s inventory from 2017 called Boomerang. Field testing is already taking place on …

• Digital Battlespace

  AMDR testing progresses

  17th February 2016

  Raytheon has completed the construction of the first of four faces of its AN/SPY-6(V) Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR). The AMDR is set to …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  UK orders Zephyr 8s

  19th February 2016

  The UK's decision to acquire the Airbus Defence and Space solar-powered Zephyr 8 high-altitude pseudo-satellite (HAPS) craft has been formalised with an order for two …

• Land Warfare

  Norway completes artillery testing

  18th February 2016

  Norway is set to upgrade its artillery capability as a competition to provide a new or upgraded system gathers pace. There is also the possibility …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Singapore Airshow: Uconsystem expands regional tie-ups

  19th February 2016

  Uconsystem, a South Korean manufacturer of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), expanded regional tie-ups with two agreements signed at the Singapore Airshow. On 16 February Uconsystem …

• Naval Warfare

  Damen to build tug for Royal Navy

  15th February 2016

  Damen Shipyards has been contracted by Serco to deliver a tug to support the Royal Navy’s two new aircraft carriers at the Portsmouth naval base, …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Singapore Airshow: Singapore explores unmanned MCM

  19th February 2016

  An unmanned mine countermeasures (MCM) combo was one highlight of the ST Electronics display at the Singapore Air Show. Two scale models illustrated the MCM …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Singapore Airshow: Boosted performance for Global Hawk

  19th February 2016

  Northrop Grumman announced completion of the MQ-4C Triton’s operational assessment during the Singapore Airshow, but the company also disclosed of a number of other developments. …

• Military Logistics

  Rheinmetall receives vehicle order

  11th February 2016

  Rheinmetall has received a €53 million order from an undisclosed Latin American customer for the supply of logistic vehicles for its army and navy, the …

• Naval Warfare

  UK increases NATO maritime commitment

  12th February 2016

  British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has said that the UK will increase its maritime commitment to NATO exercises and activities in 2016. The announcement was …

• Digital Battlespace

  US Budget: USAF commits to space competitions

  11th February 2016

  The 2017 US budget has confirmed the extension and continuation of its space satellite programmes. It is providing a budget of $7.1 billion, which is $100 …

• Naval Warfare

  Searchmaster radar in first flight

  5th February 2016

  Thales' Searchmaster radar has completed its first flight, marking the start of a six month flight test campaign, the company announced on 4 February. Thales is …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Loitering munitions

  Warmate [Ukraine]

  Programme Background Ukraine placed an order for an undisclosed number of Warmate systems in 2017. Shepherd believes units acquired in this order later were utilised ...

• Special operations vehicles

  Ashok Leyland LBPV (India - Air Force)

  Programme Background The IAF created the Garud commando force in 2004 to protect its airbases, carry out combat search and rescue and conduct covert operations ...

• Minehunters

  Awaji Class

  Programme Background Two Awaji class mine countermeasures vessels (MCMV) were ordered from the Japanese shipyard Japan Marine United (JMU) for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) initially. ...

• OPVs

  Inlay Class (second OPV)

  Programme Background The Inlay class originally consists of a single OPV in service with the Myanmar Navy. However, a second Inlay-class OPV has been reported under construction since ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4

  Eagle V 4x4

  According to documents released by the Danish Ministry of Defence, a total of 233.6 million Danish Krone (US$34.669 million) were allocated to this programme. 62.1 ...

• OPVs

  Cyprus Second Sa'ar 62 OPV

  Programme BackgroundThe Republic of Cyrus' Ministry of Defence placed an order with Israel Shipyards for its first Sa'ar 62  OPV in December 2015 in a project valued ...

• Loitering munitions

  Warmate (2017) [Poland]

  Programme Background Order In November 2017, Poland ordered 100 sets of Warmate loitering munitions, each consisting of ten platforms, for a reported 100 million Polish Zloty ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  HUSAR (2023 Order) [Germany]

  Programme Background First Order In 2015, the German Army launched the HUSAR programme to identify a replacement for its Airbus Defence & Space KZO and ...

• Landing platform docks/dock landing ships

  Makassar Class LPD (7)

  Indonesia signed a contract for $150 million for two LPDs in the Makassar class, KRI Makassar and KRI Surabaya, with South Korean shipbuilder Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering ...

• Patrol boats

  Rajshree Class (Flight II)

  Programme BackgroundThe Rajshree class is to consist of 13 FPVs built in two separate flights. Flight I saw construction begin in 2010 and all eight vessels ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  HUSAR (2017 Order) [Germany]

  Programme Background Requirement In 2015, the German Army launched the HUSAR programme to identify a replacement for its Airbus Defence & Space KZO and first-generation ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  New Exploration and Escort Helicopter (NEES) (Phase I) [Italy]

  Programme Background In 2017, the Italian government signed a contract with Leonardo to replace its fleet of AW129 Mangusta attack helicopters with the in-development AW249, ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  ScanEagle [Czechia]

  Programme Background Earmarked The ACR took delivery of ten ScanEagle systems (100 UAVs), which were received as a donation from the US in 2015. In ...

• Aircraft carriers

  Queen Elizabeth Class

  The contract to begin the construction of the first ship was awarded in 2008, ten years after the programme was announced in the 1998 SDR. ...

• Submarines: conventional, attack

  S26T [Thailand]

  Programme Background The Royal Thai Navy has been in the process of acquiring a new submarine for a number of years. They formally selected China's ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Pistols

  Jericho Pistol 941

  Designed for military and law enforcement users, the Jericho Pistol 941 is available in 9mm, .40 S&W; and .45 ACP calibres and in standard, short ...

• APCs/IFVs - 4x4

  V-RAPTOR

  Unveiled at LAAD 2023 in Rio de Janeiro, the V-RAPTOR is a tactical police armoured vehicle from domestic manufacturer Combat Armor Defense do Brasil.

• Reconnaissance/patrol vehicles

  Guará WS

  Avibras is marketing the 4x4 Guará WS light armoured vehicle, a further development of its 4x4 AV-VB4 RE Guará prototype. Developed in cooperation with the ...

• OPVs

  Israel Shipyards OPV

  The Israel Shipyards OPV design is a 400t-500t vessel designed for naval security operations. The 500t version can equip a light marine helicopter (up to five ...

• Land: manned turrets

  TORC30

  The TORC30 is a stabilised unmanned turret armed with a Rheinmetall MK30-2/ABM 30mm cannon being developed by Ares, an Elbit subsidiary, and the Brazilian Army’s ...

• Air: Displays

  Panoramic Cockpit Display

  Developed by L3Harris and Elbit Systems America, the Panoramic Cockpit Display (PCD) is a touchscreen MFD integrated into F-35 aircraft. It provides two electronically divided ...

• Self-propelled rocket launchers

  Armadillo TA-2

  The Armadillo TA-2 is an automatic or manned rocket launcher system designed to be fully retracted inside a 4x4 light vehicle.The concept, which was being ...

• EW test systems, Air: chaff, flare and decoy systems

  CAST-easy

  RUAG unveiled the Countermeasure Advanced System Test Equipment (CAST-easy) in 2017 earmarking it for the Panavia Tornado series of combat aircraft. The 2017 announcement stated ...

• Naval guns, Land: RWS

  Dragonfire

  Dragonfire is a new laser weapon system built for the UK MoD, receiving £30 million of funding in early 2017. The design of the gun ...

• Counter-UAS systems

  Drone Deterrence System

  First unveiled at the LIMA 2017 exhibition by Mitsubishi Electric, the Drone Deterrence System began to be developed in 2014 and made its first sale in ...

• Military - UUVs

  ThunderFish Alpha

  The ThunderFish Alpha (formerly DeDAvE) is an AUV designed for deep-sea military, commercial and scientific applications. In March 2017, Kraken announced a licensing agreement for ...

• Self-propelled rocket launchers

  Fletcher

  Arnold Defense, which has produced more than 1.1 million 2.75in/70mm rocket launchers for airborne applications since 1961, unveiled the Fletcher 2.75in/70mm Weapon System at the September ...

• Minehunters

  Kormoran II Class

  Three Kormoran II-class minehunters were budgeted for the Polish Navy in 2011, and a contract was placed for a prototype in 2013, with the first ...

• OPVs

  La Confiance Class (PLG)

  The La Confiance-class, also known as the Guyanese Light Patrol Vessel (PLG), in service with the French Navy, was designed by Bureau Mauric and built ...

• Submachine guns

  FN SCAR-SC

  FN Herstal unveiled the 5.56mm FN SCAR-SC (Subcompact Carbine), the newest member of the SCAR (SOF Combat Assault Rifle) family originally developed for the US ...